A temple with an idol of Sonia Gandhi, the head of India’s ruling Congress party, is being built by a supporter in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
P Shankar Rao, a former minister told reporters that he was building the temple with a 9ft idol of Ms Gandhi in Mahbubnagar district to “thank” Mrs Gandhi for her party’s decision last July to split the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and create a new state of Telangana
Some in the state, however, have criticised the temple.
“This is nothing but sycophancy for advancing personal interest,” senior Communist leader in the state Ramakrishna remarked.
“India is a democracy and there is no place for such irrational practice in a democracy. Political leaders should be respected but not worshiped like a God,” he said.
