In an apparent dig at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday said that from the time Narendra Modi became the "chowkidaar" of the country, those touring foreign countries have started remembering the mother Ganga.

Also hitting out at Priyanka Gandhi for not visiting the makeshift Ram Lalla shrine during her recent visit to Ayodhya, she said there is fear among the Congress leadership that if they do "pranam" to god in the temple, their votes will go away from them.

"Those people who gave affidavit in court....Congress government in an affidavit told the court that there is no existence of Lord Ram; today they are roaming around the streets as Ram Bhakts," Irani said.

Addressing a BJP rally during her Lok Sabha polls campaign here, she said "Those who tour foreign countries, from the time Modi became the chowkidaar of the country have started remembering mother Ganga."

"Recently the Congress leadership, as per their election strategy, had announced to go to Ayodhya.

They go to Ayodhya, but they don't do pranam in the temple, they say if they do pranam to god their vote bank will go away from them," she added.

Priyanka Gandhi had prayed at the popular Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya, but kept away from the Ram Lalla shrine.

Her visit to Ayodhya, where the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid site is located, came on the last day of her three-day trip to Uttar Pradesh.

The Hanuman shrine 'darshan' was the latest in a series of temple visits by Priyanka Gandhi, who is in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh for her party.

Pointing out that farmers of Kolar who produce tomato in large numbers had stopped sending their produce to Pakistan, Irani took a dig at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, without naming him, who, she said, sought evidence for the Indian armed forces attack on terror hideouts in Pakistan.