Gotra politics grip election season: After Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers Smriti Irani and Harsh Vardhan get in the ring

As social media remained abuzz following Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s gotra revelation, Union Cabinet ministers Smriti Irani and Harsh Vardhan ramped up the war on Wednesday. Responding to a Twitter user’s question about her gotra, Irani said:

Are you nuts??? I HAVE A GOTRA. BOTH PARENTS ARE HINDU. Father’s gotra - Kaushal. Mother’s gotra - Shandilya. Since Father’s gotra Kaushal so is mine. Get a life. https://t.co/n9gxsSZRKG

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 28, 2018

Irani was reportedly asked was asked by the user if the sindoor she wears “is religious or style statement”. She also put out a disclaimer, saying that it was her responsibility as a public figure to respond when asked questions “no matter how infuriating”.

Public Disclaimer —- as a public figure when asked questions (no matter how infuriating )it is my responsibility to respond however as an Indian let me proudly say मेरा धर्म हिंदुस्तान है मेरा कर्म हिंदुस्तान है मेरी आस्था हिंदुस्तान है मेरा विश्वास हिंदुस्तान है 🙏

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 28, 2018

Vardhan demanded that Rahul present his “true identity” as he couldn’t have a Dattatreya gotra. “Jawaharlal Nehru’s gotra was Dattatreya because he was Brahmin. His sons would have inherited his gotra. Indira ji can’t transfer her father’s gotra to her son. Thus, Rajiv Gandhi being son of a Parsi (Feroz Gandhi) can’t have Dattatreya gotra,” Vardhan tweeted.

When Rahul Gandhi claimed that he is Brahmin, I had no problem because as per the Vedas 'ब्रह्म जानाति ब्राह्मण:'. That means a Brahmin need not be born to Brahmin parents. But when you build your base with lies, you are sure to lose trust. https://t.co/N8Frq7FQ6G

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) November 28, 2018

He further urged Irani to “ignore and enjoy the destruction of Congress”. “People look for capability and credibility and never for caste, religion or race,” he said. When Rahul was asked about his gotra in Rajasthan’s Pushkar last week, he introduced himself as Kaul Brahmin of Dattatreya gotra, and performed the puja. The development came following BJP’s demand that the Congress president, who had earlier said that he is a Lord Shiva devotee and a “janeu dhari” Hindu, unveil his caste identity. A priest at the Pushkar lake, who presided over the puja offered by Rahul, claimed that the Congress president’s gotra was ‘Dattatreya’ and he is a Kashmiri Brahmin. “His gotra is ‘Dattatreya’ and he is a Kashmiri Brahmin. Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have come and offered prayers at the ghat and it is recorded with us,” Dinanath Kaul, the priest, told reporters. With inputs from PTI