As BJP leaders flock to take a holy dip during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has taken a jibe at the spectacle, accusing BJP leaders of staging their religious acts for the camera. Speaking at the ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ rally in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Kharge questioned whether dipping in the Ganga could solve the country’s pressing problems, such as poverty or hunger.
“I do not wish to question anyone’s faith,” Kharge said, offering an apology if his words offended anyone. “But when a child is dying of hunger, when children are not going to school, when workers are denied their wages, is it right for these people to spend thousands of rupees just to compete for the perfect photograph while taking a dip in the Ganga?” He suggested that such gestures, while visually appealing, did little to address the real issues affecting the poor and vulnerable.
Kharge emphasized that faith is important, and everyone practices their own form of devotion, whether through daily puja at home or rituals performed by women before leaving their houses. However, he expressed concern about the exploitation of the poor under the guise of religion, criticizing the BJP for using faith as a tool for political gain.
These comments came on the same day that Union Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, symbolizing the BJP’s embrace of the Mahakumbh festivities.
The BJP wasted no time in responding sharply to Kharge’s remarks. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra accused the Congress of attacking the faith of millions of Hindus. “The Mahakumbh is a centuries-old symbol of the Sanatan faith,” Patra said. “While the whole world reveres this faith, the Congress party is mocking it.” He further criticized Kharge’s remarks about the Ganga dip, calling them hurtful and disrespectful.
Patra went on to challenge Kharge, along with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, asking whether they would ever make similar comments about the faith of any other religion. “Would they dare question whether attending an Iftaar party brings jobs or alleviates poverty? The Congress party’s anti-Sanatan mindset is shameful,” Patra declared.
The exchange highlights the deepening divide between India’s political parties, with religion playing an increasingly central role in political discourse. While Kharge’s comments focus on addressing social issues and economic disparities, the BJP frames the criticism as an attack on religious practices and sentiments. The debate is likely to continue as both sides seek to assert their political and ideological positions.
