Rahul Gandhi Skips Maha Kumbh : BJP Slams Congress, Sparks Political Row
The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, a massive 45-day religious event in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, concluded on February 26 with over 66 crore devotees taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam. However, the absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his INDIA bloc ally Uddhav Thackeray has sparked a political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seizing the chance to criticize the opposition.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde fired the first salvo, accusing Gandhi and Thackeray of hypocrisy. “They call themselves Hindutvavadis but didn’t visit the Kumbh. Over 65 crore people attended, yet they stayed away,” Shinde said, pointing out the gap between their words and actions. The Maha Kumbh, held every 12 years, is a cornerstone of Hindu faith, making their no-show a hot topic.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh piled on, labeling the duo “misguided” and slamming Thackeray for aligning with Congress, a party critical of Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar. “Thackeray walks with Savarkar’s opponents,” Singh remarked. Another Union Minister, Ramdas Athawale, went further, claiming their absence insulted the Hindu community. “Hindus must boycott them. They want Hindu votes but skipped this sacred event,” he said.
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Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, was in Rae Bareli on February 20-21 but didn’t travel to nearby Prayagraj for the Kumbh. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi, also stayed away. This isn’t the first time the Gandhis have faced such heat—last year, they skipped the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya, drawing similar BJP criticism.
Congress leaders fought back. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai defended Gandhi, saying, “I took a dip at the Kumbh on behalf of the Gandhi family. It’s a festival of faith, not politics.” Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal dismissed the BJP’s attacks as “gimmicks,” urging people not to take them seriously.
The clash underscores the deepening divide between the BJP and INDIA bloc as elections loom. While the BJP frames the Maha Kumbh snub as anti-Hindu, Congress insists faith shouldn’t be a political weapon. For now, the debate rages on, keeping the spotlight on this historic event.
