Poster of Rahul as Lord Ram, slaying ‘vote chor’ Ravana, sparks war of words in Lucknow
BJP said Congress leaders, who did not visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, are now claiming to be the god themselves
The hoarding depicted Congress leader and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi as Lord Ram, holding a bow and arrow, with Congress state president Ajay Rai as Laxman. (Source: Express Archives) 
A hoarding put up for Dussehra outside the Congress headquarters in Lucknow has sparked a war of words between the party and the BJP.
The hoarding depicted Congress leader and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi as Lord Ram, holding a bow and arrow, with Congress state president Ajay Rai as Laxman. Together, they were shown slaying Ravana, whose face bore the words “vote chor,” while his other heads were labelled ED, corruption, price rise, and Election Commission.
Hitting out at the Congress, the BJP alleged that Congress leaders, who did not visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, are claiming to be Ram.
“Jo Ram drohi hain, jo sanatan ka samman karna nahi jante, jo Ram ka darshan karne nahi gaye, dukhad hai ki who apne ko Ram ke roop mein darsha rahe hain (Those who are anti-Ram, who do not know how to respect Sanatan Dharma, who did not even do darshan of Ram (in Ayodhya), it is sad that they are trying to project themselves as Ram today),” said BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi.
Alleging that Congress and its leaders are in the habit of disrespecting Hindu gods and goddesses, Tripathi challenged Congress and its leaders to do the same with he gods of other communities.
National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) Vice-President Aryan Misha, who put up the hoarding and posters outside Congress headquarters, advised the BJP not to become the “thekedar (caretaker) of Hindus”. It claimed there is nothing wrong with the hoardings as Rahul Gandhi is only working towards bringing “Ram Rajya”.
“The banner rightly projects Rahul Gandhi as Lord Ram and state president Ajay Rai as Laxman. It is Rahul Gandhi who is actually doing ‘Ram Kaj’ (work of Ram) by fighting hatred and corruption. BJP leaders only talk of Ram for their personal benefit but do not believe in his idealism,” he said.
“Woh 2014 ke baad wale Hindu hain, hum to pehle bhi they, aaj bhi hain aur aage bhi rahenge. Woh Hindu hone ka certificate dene wale kaun hain? (They are Hindus post 2014, while we were Hindus before that. We will be Hindus even today and tomorrow. Who are they to give anyone certificates of Hinduism?)”
Speaking to The Indian Express, Congress State President Rai said, “The representation is symbolic and describes the feelings of not just Aryan but of crores of youth in the country, who are troubled by the ills of corruption, price rise, vote chori etc and are looking towards Rahul ji to finish these ills. However, instead of understanding the true sentiments of the youth, the BJP is doing politics of negativity and hatred like they always do.”
Share
