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Rahul Gandhi’s relationship with religion and politics has always been complex. Over the years, he has tried to reshape his Hindu identity, especially after the Congress's repeated electoral losses, which were attributed to a perception of minority appeasement, as per the Antony Committee report.

In 2019, Congress officially declared him a “janeu-dhaari Shiv bhakt”.
He embarked on temple visits, attempting to differentiate himself from PM Modi, whom he called a “chunaavi Hindu”—a Hindu only for elections.
However, his absence from the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony and now the Kumbh Mela holy dip raises questions about his religious positioning.

Why Did Rahul Gandhi Skip the Kumbh Mela?

Congress Sources claim he saw the Kumbh as a “government and photo-op event”, orchestrated by the BJP and Yogi Adityanath’s government.
He criticized the BJP for mismanaging the event, claiming it was VIP-centric, ignoring the common devotees.
After the stampede incident, both Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) attacked the government over safety lapses.

However, within Congress, not everyone agrees with this approach.

Internal Discomfort Within Congress

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned whether a Kumbh dip could solve unemployment, a remark that many party members found unnecessary.

In contrast, several Congress leaders defied Gandhi’s stance and took the holy dip:
Sachin Pilot
DK Shivakumar
Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

This shows a divide within the party, where some believe distancing from Hindu religious events could hurt the party politically.

Is Rahul Gandhi’s Strategy Backfiring?

Rahul Gandhi has frequently questioned Modi’s religious identity, but this has often backfired on Congress.
If Congress aims to regain ground in Uttar Pradesh, questioning Hindu traditions like Kumbh, Kashi, and Ayodhya could alienate voters.
His absence from major Hindu events while positioning himself as a true Hindu raises credibility concerns.

Does Gandhi dislike Modi more than he loves the Congress?
Is avoiding the Kumbh Mela a political self-goal?

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