It seems that seeking to platform the Congress's soft Hindutva, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday obtainable prayers at four temples in Gujarat before covering up his three-day visit to the poll-bound state, a move his party said was aimed at countering the hardline Hindutva of the BJP and RSS. However, the ruling BJP took a dig at Gandhi, saying the Congress vice president was visiting temples as his party has failed to win elections in the state for a long time. In New Delhi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram deprecated attempts at reading any political meaning into Gandhi's visit to temples. Gandhi, who had started off his tour after offering prayers at the Dwarkadhish temple on Monday, pause his road-show on Wednesday morning by trekking up the famous Chotila temple in Surendranagar district. Starting his tour from Rajkot on Wednesday morning, Gandhi came to Chotila and began the steep climb immediately. After he had offered prayers, the priests apprised him of the importance of the shrine. The Congress leader climbed down the stairway in another quarter of hours, greeting devotees on his way back. In the evening, Gandhi visited Khodal Dham temple in Kagvad village to offer prayers to Khodiyar Mata, the reigning deity of the Leuva Patel community. A section ofPatels are up in arms against the state's BJP government over their demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. On his arrival, Gandhi was greeted by a large number of Patidars, who chanted their signature slogan - 'Jai Sardar, Jai Patidar' to welcome the Congress leader. On his way to Jetpur from Kagvad, Gandhi also paid a visit to a temple dedicated to Dasi Jeevan, revered by Dalits and Buddhists.
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