On Wednesday, RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya — along with an Independent legislator from Maharashtra’s Achalpur constituency, Omprakash Baburao Kaddu — laid the foundation for a new house for Shakuntala, a Dalit woman, in Rahul’s own Amethi. Calling it “revenge through Gandhigiri”, Kadu and Govindacharya accused Rahul Gandhi of politicising poverty and not actually doing any good to the economically deprived people of the country.

“Yeh hamare prahar ka tarika hai (This is our way of hitting back),” said Kadu. “This is our way of telling Rahul Gandhi that there is not just one Kalavati in the country. If he really wants to help them, he should find out some permanent solution to their problems and formulate policies that help people like Shakuntala across the country”.

The money, around Rs 1 lakh needed for the construction of the house, has been collected by the people of Maharashtra. “But this is just the beginning,” he said. “We have formed a ‘Prahar Sangathan’ with the support of Govindacharya and will continue this work across the country.”

Laying the foundation of Shakuntala’s house in Purana Raipur of Amethi, Govindacharya also advised Rahul to think beyond Kalavati.