#RahulGandhi meets pastor George Ponnaiah who was arrested for his hate speech against Hindus, insults Hindu deities again in front of him
The pastor, known for his derogatory statements against Hindus, told Rahul Gandhi that Jesus is the "only real God not like Shakti" in a video that has now gone viral.
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Congress leader Rahul who is an expert in erupting controversy has been in limelight again, thanks to a video that is going viral on social media. Rahul Gandhi, who is on a 150-day-long Bharat Jodo Yatra with a very good start *insert sarcasm* by meeting controversial catholic priest George Ponnaiah in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu.
The pastor, known for his derogatory statements against Hindus, told Gandhi that Jesus is the "only real God not like Shakti" in a video that has now gone viral. Ponniah is a member of the Jananayaga Christhava Peravai, which is a Tamil Nadu-based NGO located in Kanyakumari.
Rahul Gandhi met him at the Muttidichan Parai Church, Puliyoorkurichy where he camped for a morning break on Friday. In the viral video, the Congress leader can be heard asking, "Jesus Christ is a form of God? Is that right?" to which the Tamil Nadu priest George Ponniah replied, "He is the real God." Ponniah goes on to say, "God reveals him(self) as a man, a real person...not like Shakti...so we see a human person." When such statements were made against Hindu deities, Rahul Gandhi remained silent.
Ponniah has a history of delivering provocative statements that have landed him in trouble in the past. In one such instance, while addressing a public rally in Kanyakumari, he had said, "But we wear shoes. Why? Because the impurities of Bharat Mata should not contaminate us. The Tamil Nadu government has given us free footwear. This Bhumi Devi is dangerous, you could catch scabies from it."
Father George Ponnaiah also issued veiled threats to the Hindu community about the changing demographics of the State. “We are now the majority (in the Kanyakumari district) from 42 percent we have crossed 62 percent. Soon we would be 70 percent. You cannot stop us. I am saying this as a warning to my Hindu brothers.”
He was arrested last year in July in Kallikudi, Madurai for allegedly making a "hate speech" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, DMK Minister, and others. More than 30 complaints were filed against him in various districts of Tamil Nadu. Later, he publicly apologized for his provoking words on the Hindu religion.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla attacked Rahul Gandhi, "George Ponnaiah who met Rahul Gandhi says Jesus is the only God unlike Shakti (& other Hindu Gods)" He further said, "Earlier he was arrested for his bigotry remark, when he said, "I wear shoes because impurities of Bharat Mata should not contaminate us." Poonawalla took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi's meeting with the priest, saying, "Bharat Jodo with Bharat Todo icons?"