Robert Vadra, husband of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has defended Rahul Gandhi’s decision to skip the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. Addressing the controversy, Vadra stated that their family does not believe in showcasing religious beliefs publicly. He also argued that the presence of a high-profile leader like Rahul Gandhi at the event could have caused inconvenience to pilgrims due to VIP arrangements.
“We Don’t Believe in Public Display of Religion”
In an interview with IANS, Vadra clarified their stance on religious visits. “If we go to Maha Kumbh, there could be disruption and pilgrims’ inconvenience due to VIP arrangements… we can go at any time. We don’t do anything for public display. We don’t have to show how secular we are,” he said.
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He further added, “My belief is that we should not indulge in religious acts for public display or indulge in politics of show-off. So, I believe Rahul Gandhi does not undertake religious visits for public display; he can go to any holy place whenever he decides to, and also, there should be no inconvenience to others.”
BJP Attacks Rahul Gandhi’s Absence
The Maha Kumbh Mela, a grand 45-day religious event, concluded on February 26, with over 66 crore devotees, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taking a dip in the holy waters. However, Rahul Gandhi’s absence drew criticism, particularly from the BJP.
BJP leader Amit Malviya targeted Gandhi, stating, “More than 66 crore people from every corner of the country and the world participated in this great festival of faith, but Rahul Gandhi, the ‘scion of Congress’ which ruled the country for decades, did not visit the Maha Kumbh.”
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s lineage, Malviya further said, “It is natural for the son of a Christian mother and a Parsi father to not have faith in this ancient festival of the Hindu society. Rahul Gandhi has not even visited the Ram Lalla temple (in Ayodhya) built after a long struggle of 500 years.”
Malviya also accused the Gandhi family of selective temple visits for electoral gains, stating, “But the same Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Vadra, and mother Sonia Gandhi pretend to visit temples before elections, which should be stopped now.”
As the debate continues, Vadra’s explanation suggests that the Congress leader’s absence was a conscious decision, avoiding political and logistical disruptions at the religious gathering.
