BJP’s attack on Rahul over meeting with Tamil priest last year for ‘hate speech’; Congress says ruling party is desperate India News – Times of India

Kanyakumari: Barely four days in its 150-day long India couple tripCongress leader Rahul Gandhi found himself embroiled in a controversy after meeting Catholic priest George Ponnaiah, who was arrested last July for his alleged hate speech against the prime minister. Narendra Modiin Kanyakumari district Tamil Nadu on Friday.
Saturday morning, BJP National spokesperson Shahzad Poonawalla tweeted a video clip of their conversation which has gone viral.
While meeting the Tamil Nadu clergyman at Mutdichan Parai Church, Puliyurkurichi, where he had camped for his morning break, Rahul can reportedly be heard asking the priest, “Jesus Christ is a form of God? Is this Good?” To this, the priest is heard replying, “He is the real God. God reveals Him (Himself) as a man, a real person… not like Power (strength) … then we see a human.”
Subsequently, BJP national spokesperson Poonawalla took a jibe, saying, “George Ponnaiah, who met Rahul Gandhi, says that Jesus is the only god unlike Shakti (and other gods)… of the Bharat-Todo (Break-India) icon. Pair India with.”

Soon after, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh termed the video a “specific prank of the BJP”. “It has nothing to do with what is recorded in the audio. It is a typical prank of the BJP, which has become more desperate after the successful launch of Bharat Jodi Yatra,” Ramesh said.
AICC General Secretary Communications tweeted, “A dastardly tweet from BJP’s hate factory is doing the rounds.”

Taking a jibe at the BJP, he said, “Those responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and people like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh are raising questions!”

Last July, Ponnaiah was arrested in Madurai’s Kalikudi for allegedly giving hate speeches against Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, a DMK minister and others.

The Panvilai Parish priest was speaking at a meeting held in Arumanai to pay tribute to activist father Stan Swamy, apart from the closure of churches, the alleged ban on holding prayer meetings and the denial of permission to build a church even on leased land. was done.
(with agency input)