Congress mayor attends mass conversion, says didn't take anti-Hindu oath: 'Will never worship Gauri, Ganpati'

Congress's Hema Deshmukh said she was the chief guest of the event and had no knowledge of the anti-Hindu oath. “I thought they were going take oath on the Constitution. I am a Hindu. I did not take those anti-Hindu oaths,” the Rajanandgaon mayor said.

Congress leader, Hema Deshmukh, mayor of Rajanandgaon in Chhattisgarh, attended a mass conversion event, the video of which has gone viral inviting more trouble for the party which is already drawing flak for the ‘Hindu, a horrible word’ comment of Karnataka leader Satish Jarkiholi. In the Chhattisgarh conversion event, oaths against Hindu deities were taken. "I will never follow Gauri, Ganpati or any other Hindu Gods and Goddesses and will never worship them. I will never believe that they were the incarnation of God" -- this oath was administered to the participants, as seen in the viral video.

Congress's Hema Deshmukh said she was present at the event but did not take oath. (Screengrab from viral video on left)

The conversion event took place on Monday. BJP's national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress's only intention is to spread hatred towards Hinduism.

Hema Deshmukh accepted that she attended the event organised by the Buddist society but claimed she had no knowledge about the oath. "The event is organised every year. Former chief minister Raman Singh was also there. I was not aware of the anti-Hindu oath. I thought they were taking an oath on the Constitution. But as soon as they made anti-Hindu statements, I took down my hand as I am a Hindu and can't take statements against my gods and goddesses. Then I left the event," Hema Deshmukh told to a television channel.

On Wednesday, Karnataka Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi who earlier said the meaning of the word 'Hindu' is horrible apologised for his comment and withdrew it.