BJP MP Paresh Rawal asks Rahul Gandhi not to copy PM Modi

RAJKOT: Actor-turned BJP MP Paresh Rawal has slammed Congress VP Rahul Gandhi for alleging ‘development has gone crazy’ in Gujarat and advised him not to visit temples if he lacks “bhakti (dedication)” for it.

Participating in the ‘Mann ki Baat, Chai ke Saath’ event here, he said: “Long back, Congress said Indira lao, desh bachao; then they said Sonia lao, desh bachao. Now they are saying Alpesh, Hardik, Jignesh lao, Rahul bachao.”

The actor, who represents Ahmedabad East in Lok Sabha, said Gandhi should first work for development of Amethi — “with which even his forefathers were associated” — before alleging ‘ development has gone crazy’ in Gujarat.

Rawal charged Rahul Gandhi with “copying Modi” by visiting temples. “If Rahul wants to copy Modi, he should, like him, treat Parliament as a temple of democracy,” Rawal said, referring to Modi kneeling down and bowing his head before entering Parliament for the first time. “Think whether you would like your son to be like Modi or Gandhi and vote accordingly,” Rawal told the crowd.

Despite Rawal being a popular actor, there were empty chairs and a thin crowd. He arrived after Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ telecast was over. Also, no chai was served though the program tagline promised it.