Youth Congress’ Tweet Mocking Modi’s Diction Runs Foul Of Rahul’s Assurance To Respect Prime Minister’s Post

Congress has disapproved the said tweet, saying that the party's culture imbibed respect for the prime minister and all political opponents.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 22 November 2017 10:20 am

A disparaging picture shared on the verified twitter handle of Indian Youth Congress online magazine Yuva Desh that mocked the Prime Minister’s diction and past has got the goat of the BJP leaders who slammed the Congress for disrespecting the head of the country and harbouring a “feudal mindset”.

The Yuva Desh’s tweet comes days after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said despite “differences with BJP and PM” the Congress will never “disrespect the position of PM the way BJP used to do while in opposition.” He had said :“The position of the Prime Minister represents the people of India so we will never disrespect that position,”

Ahead of crucial elections in Gujarat, the Congress now finds itself in a tough spot, but has openly disapproved the said tweet, saying that the party's culture imbibed respect for the prime minister and all political opponents.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday took to Twitter, hours after Yuva Desh's tweet drew flak, and furnished an explanation for the same.

"INC strongly disapproves & rejects such humour through memes. Differences on policy and opinion aside, Congress culture imbibes respect for PM and all political opponents," Surjewala tweeted.

But that was not before the BJP raised strong objections to it.

"Yuva Desh deleting the tweet means nothing now. The damage is done, be it intentional or unintentional. This also clearly shows the feudal mindset of the Congress," BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi told ANI.

Another BJP leader Sambit Patra said, "The nation saw the impact of 'Maut Ka Saudagar' jibe and Mani Shankar Aiyar's abuses in 2014. A similar impact will be seen now. The Congress has not only insulted the prime minister, but also insulted six crore Gujaratis and 1.25 billion Indians."

Reminiscing Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's 2014 remarks, BJP leader Tajinder Bagga said, "Just because Modi ji comes from a poor family and he used to sell tea you will insult him? This is an insult of all hard working poor people. Also, a mistake happens once, not twice. First in 2014, Mani Shankar Aiyar said this and now Yuva Desh."

BJP MP Paresh Rawal, however, went a step further and tweeted 'Our Chai-wala is any day better than your bar-wala'.

After facing flak, he too deleted the tweet and apologised for 'hurting feelings.'

'Deleted the tweet as it's in bad taste and I apologise for hurting feelings,' he said.