Congress on Tuesday got into a controversy, which the party could have easily avoided and done without. With only a few weeks left for the Gujarat Assembly elections, getting making such controversial comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi could cost the party heavily.
Congress party’s youth wing’s online magazine Yuva Desh tweeted out a meme mocking Narendra Modi as ‘chaiwala’ targetting the Prime Minister over his days when he sold tea. The meme was, however, deleted subsequently and came up another tweet which showed Modi having a conversation with US President Donald Trump and Theresa May, where Modi mispronounces the word meme and Trump corrects him, while May comments that he is only fir to sell tea.
Congress' online magazine tweets derogatory meme attacking PM Modi, deletes later
Read @ANI story | https://t.co/4uBvxWHfBM pic.twitter.com/JhH82acg5S
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) November 21, 2017
Though later, the Youth Congress apologized for the tweet saying that the handle was not run by them but by party volunteers. Amrinder Singh Raja Brar, Youth Congress chief said that “The handle is not run by Indian Youth Congress but by volunteers. I still take this opportunity and apologize and strongly condemn that tweet.” He also said that “I apologise for such bad humour. Despite huge political differences with BJP and having suffered abuse from their leaders, we respect the PM and all the political opponents.”
The handle is not run by Indian Youth Congress but by volunteers, I still take this opportunity and apologize and strongly condemn that tweet: Amrinder Singh Raja Brar,Youth Congress Chief pic.twitter.com/5pIfT73LT3
— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2017
But the apology came in too late and could undo the damage the tweet had already done, as it had already gone viral and several BJP leaders had begun to hit out on the Congress, for making such comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, also not missing out on the opportunity to pull down Congress, tweeted that the posts of Congress show that the party is classist and “anti-poor”.
He also stated that the remarks made by Congress will be taken up by BJP during the election campaign in Gujarat, as insult of the Prime Minister was an insult of “Gujarati asmita (pride)”.
This blatantly classist and anti-poor Tweet by the Youth Congress shows their mindset towards India’s poor. Does Crown Prince @OfficeOfRG support this? https://t.co/gOqRqWIfL4
— Vijay Rupani (Modi Ka Parivar) (@vijayrupanibjp) November 21, 2017
Since the party has posted the tweet, knowingly or unknowingly, does not matter who operated the handle and who posted it, Congress has gotten itself into unwanted controversy. When the party is already in a crucial situation ahead of the Gujarat polls, it should not have forgotten that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi wears the ‘Chaiwala’ tag with pride and not disgrace.
According to the political experts, mocking Modi over his tea selling days will not insult him rather add to his strength. The BJP and Modi has himself on more than one ocassion has spoken about the humble origins of the Prime Minister. The BJP members has many a times used it as an example of internal democracy within the BJP, saying any person anywhere in the country can ascend to the top. While attacking the Congress they have always said that the party does not know what it meas to rise from the root level, as the party has only seen dynasty politics where the power has been passed from one to another within the family.
Such disdain for a man who rose from grassroots.. https://t.co/xVwxTP4uFo
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) November 21, 2017
Congress, if not forgotten should be reminded again that the party had made the same mistake ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and BJP had won with a clear majority, and since then the fortunes of Congress have been eroding.
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had made a similar comment mocking the old days of Modi at the All India Congress Committee convention. He had said that “I promise you in the 21st Century, Narendra Modi will never become the prime minister of the country. But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him.”
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala expressing discontent with the personal comment on the Prime Minister said that “Congress strongly disapproves and rejects such humour through memes. Differences on policy and opinion aside, Congress culture imbibes respect for the PM and all political opponents.”
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, during campaigning in Gujarat had earlier asked the party members not to make personal comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, he refrained from commenting anything about the ‘Chaiwala’ tweet on Modi.
The apologies from Congress, was unable to supress the anger of many of the BJP leaders. Taking a dig at Congress high command and vice president, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned that “Madam Sonia Gandhi & Mr Rahul Gandhi do you still believe that only you have a divine right to rule India? Country expects your response on the tweet of the Youth Congress.”
BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said, “This is a crude attempt to ridicule over 90% of India’s population that is unfamiliar with the English language…”
While counter attacking the remark of Congress, Actor Paresh Rawal tweeted that “Our Chaiwala is better than Bar wala.” However, he deleted the tweet later apologised to hurt the feelings.
This new social controversy will bring have what effects on Congress is a major question, but one thing is for sure that the party could have avoided this unwanted problem at such a crucial time.