Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today slammed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his reported comments about the dip in the Ganga. In a social media post, Mr. Rijiju said it is painful to hear that Congress is ridiculing the Mahakumbh. He added that taking a dip in the holy Ganga, going for Haj, praying in a church, lighting lamps in a monastery, bowing before the Guru Granth Sahib, or engaging in any prayer is not for poverty removal but a matter of faith. Yesterday, while addressing a party event in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Kharge had said that BJP leaders were competing with each other to take a dip at the Sangam for the cameras, questioning whether this would help eradicate poverty in the country.