UP Election 2022: Rahul and Priyanka Vs Smriti Irani over Hindu Vs Hindutvawadi

After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his 'Hindu versus Hindutvawadi' salvo, the BJP has hit back asking him to apologise.

"On one side is Hindu. On the other is Hindutvawadi. On one side is truth, love and non-violence and on the other is falsehood, hatred and violence," Rahul Gandhi had said in Amethi.

"Hindutvawadi bathes alone in Ganga, but a Hindu will bathe with crores of others," Gandhi said at a public gathering, taking a swipe at the prime minister who recently inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi after taking a holy dip.

"Narendra Modi Ji says that he is a Hindu, but when did he protect the truth.... (Is he) Hindu or Hindutvawadi?" Gandhi said at a public gathering, raising the issue of jobs, China's incursions and farm laws. Mahatma Gandhi was a Hindu as he fought against injustice while a Hindutvawadi is like Nathu Ram Godse who used to lie, spread violence and had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, the Congress leader said.

Slamming Rahul Gandhi, union minister Smriti Irani tok a swipe saying real Hindus are not those who wear Janeu (sacred thread) over their coats during election season. "Real Hindus are those who make roads and schools for all to benefit," she said.

UP deputy CM Dinesh Sharma hit back at the Congress leader saying: "Rahul Gandhi's remark is condemnable & deserves criticism. Elections will come & go, he should immediately apologize to PM Modi".

The war over Hindu Vs Hindutvawadi has been raging between the Gandhis and the BJP leaders.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi defended her brother. "Hinduism teaches honesty & love amongst all. RSS&BJP members do politics in the name of religion;they aren't on the path of righteousness or honesty. Rahul Ji is just trying to show the difference," she said in Rae Bareli.