BJP, Congress target UP, Punjab elections on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti
India Today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi all visited Ravidas temples on the occasion of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
Amid the aggressive political campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Guru Ravidas Vishram Dham temple in Delhi. At the same time, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Ravidas temple in Varanasi.
Congress General Secretary and UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi along with Rahul Gandhi also arrived, turning Varanasi into the political capital.
From the UP Assembly Elections to the Punjab Assembly elections, efforts are being made to cultivate political sentiment through Guru Ravidas among the Dalit voters.
The mystic poet-reformer who preached against social prejudices enjoys a nationwide following, especially among the Dalits, and the community members are present in large numbers in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh where election campaigning is in full swing.
Ravidas temple has a significant place in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. CM Adityanath had already visited the temple once. Earlier, Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati also mentioned the temple although she hasn't visited the site yet.
Similarly, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also prayed at the Ravidas Temple in Varanasi early in the morning and took blessings, giving a strong message of Dalit sentiments and associating Guru Ravidas with the people of Punjab and their values. It may be Channi's first visit as CM but not for other political leaders, who have visited the temple on several occasions.
The Punjab election battle was being played out in Uttar Pradesh.
