Ahmedabad: Leaders of BJP and right-wing organizations have strongly condemned Congress candidate Indranil Rajguru’s controversial remark that ‘Mahadev lives in Ajmer and Allah in Somnath’ and termed it as an ‘insult to Hindus’. The controversy started following a video of Rajguru’s controversial speech. During a public meeting, it went viral on social media regarding religious places Ajmer and Somnath. In the viral video, the former Congress MLA, who is now contesting on the party’s ticket from Rajkot (East) seat, can be seen telling a gathering in the constituency, comprising a mostly Muslim audience, ” In my opinion, Mahadev and Allah are the same. Mahadev lives in Ajmer, and Allah lives in Somnath. Allahu Akbar (God is great).
He also asked them to chant “Har Har Mahadev” after him and the members of the crowd did the same.
“In my view, Mahadev and Allah are one and the same. I feel happy taking my Hindu brothers to Lord Mahadev (Somnath) in the bus. But I feel the same joy when I go to Ajmer with trains full of people … Those who want to reform us should know that we are all humans. Allahu Akbar. Har Har Madev,” said Rajguru, who recently returned to the Congress after a short stint with the Aam Aadmi Party. .
Ajmer is famous for the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, and Somnath is famous for the temple of Lord Mahadev.
BJP’s Uday Kangar, contesting against Rajguru from Rajkot (East), hit back, saying, “There is a big difference. Such a statement is objectionable to the Hindu community…Somnath is revered across the country, and The first ‘Jyotirlinga’. Nothing like that should be said.”
Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj, a prominent religious leader of Ahmedabad also strongly condemned the statements of Rajguru. He claimed, “This is an example of how low a person can stoop for votes. With such a statement, he has not only insulted Hindus but also Muslims…It is just an attempt to woo Hindu and Muslim voters.” ”
Later, in view of the controversy, Rajguru said, “A clip of me saying ‘Allahu Akbar’ has surfaced. In the same clip, people should also hear 5,000 Muslims chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’.” He said that the rival BJP made viral a part of his speech in which he is seen saying ‘Allahu Akbar’.
I asked them (public meeting) that if I am not ashamed to take the name of Allah, then are you ashamed to take the name of Mahadev? When I said ‘Allahu Akbar’, 5,000 people chanted ‘Har Har Mahadev’ This is the reality of the video,” Rajguru said.
Polling for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5.