The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday asked the BJP State president and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje not to start her “Suraj Sankalp Yatra” from Charbhuja temple in Rajsamand district, saying it runs the risk of raising religious passions and disturbing communal harmony in the State.
The Congress alleged that Ms. Raje was trying to play political cards on the pretext of giving a religious twist to her Yatra despite knowing well that a religious place should only be used for worshipping and performing rituals related to the faith.
“Politicisation of religious places and pilgrim centres is not in the interest of the society,” it said.
The statement, taking exception to the BJP’s plan for flagging off the Yatra from Charbhuja temple this coming Thursday, was issued jointly by PCC vice-presidents Rajiv Arora and Mahendra Singh, general secretary Pukhraj Parashar, secretaries Ajit Singh Shekhawat, Saroj Chaudhary, Om Rajoria and R. R. Tiwari and spokespersons Kuldeep Sharma and Archana Sharma.
“Religious places are the sacred centres of faith and spirituality. People go there to pray for their well-being. It is regrettable that Ms. Raje is planning to demonstrate her royal opulence and feudal strength at a religious place,” said the statement.
The PCC warned that launching the Yatra from Charbhuja temple while seeking public mandate in the upcoming State Assembly elections would vitiate the State’s atmosphere and polarise the society: “We sincerely believe that Ms. Raje should not start her Yatra from a religious place.”
