The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has approached the Election Commission over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Panauti” remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India lost the cricket World Cup to Australia. PM Modi was present during the final match between India and Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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BJP’s Complaint with Election Commission
The BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his “Panauti” (bad omen) remark and urged the Commission to take proper action. The Congress leader made such a remark on the Prime Minister for his presence at the World Cup final between India and Australia at Ahmedabad. The Congress leader had also remarked the Honorable Prime Minister was a “pickpocket”.
For the use of such “shameful and disgraceful” terms, the Congress MP invited sharp criticism from the ruling BJP who demanded an apology. A BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya approached the Election Commission to complaint against Rahul Gandhi for using terms like “jebkatre” (pickpocket) in Barmer, Rajasthan to target PM Narendra Modi.
The complaint to EC states that using remarks like jebkatra and panauti for a Prime Minister is not expected from a senior leader and is a sign of declining political discourse. It also urged the commission to take appropriate legal action against the MP. BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan retaliated and claimed his act was “anti-national”. Several other BJP leaders have called Rahul a “mand buddhi” (dimwit). BJP chief in Madhya Pradesh, V.D. Sharma hit back at Rahul saying that the remarks were an insult to the entire nation. Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad heavily criticized Rahul for his objectionable and disgraceful remarks against the Prime Minister.
What did Rahul Gandhi say?
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi while addressing an electoral campaign in the Jalore district of Rajasthan targeted Prime Minister Modi by calling him a “Panauti” (bad omen) by citing that his presence at the World Cup final was the reason India lost to Australia. He said that the boys in blue could have won the cup but “panauti” made them lose.
While addressing a gathering at Rajakheda in the Dholpur district of Rajasthan, the Congress leader compared the Prime Minister to a pickpocket. He said that they come in groups and not alone. He said that the pickpockets divert attention like Narendra Modi, then pickpocket like Adani and afterwards threaten like Amit Shah. The Congress MP from time to time has accused the Prime Minister of working in favor of businessman Gautam Adani and thereby ending up making two types of Hindustan- one for Mr. Adani and another for the marginal sections.
The Congress leader, time and again has given some controversial remarks. Earlier this year his candidature as a member of Lok Sabha was disqualified due to his 2019 remark where he said that thieves have Modi as a common surname. His disqualification was later revoked after the Supreme Court granted him relief in August.
The BJP reminded Mr. Gandhi that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Home Minister Buta Singh had attended the 1982 Hockey final match which India lost to Pakistan. They left the match midway after they saw the Indian side starting to lose which was an insult to the team and broke the morale of the players. The BJP has urged the Commission to take appropriate legal action against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for their fraudulent, objectionable and baseless remarks.
