In another low for Indian politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday 5 May, while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh, attacked former PM Rajiv Gandhi in a statement. He said, “Your (Rahul) father was termed ‘Mr Clean’ by his courtiers, but his life ended as ‘Bhrastachari No 1’.”
Many Opposition leaders condemned the statement and called it ‘shameful’ and ‘unfortunate’.
Twitter users were also shocked and took to the micro-blogging site with their opinions. Many said attacking a PM who was killed by terrorists is very unbecoming of a PM.
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‘Moral Degradation’
Journalist Rifat Jawaid said “his (Modi’s) comments today about Rajiv Gandhi should worry you even if you are his die-hard supporters (sic).”
Journalist Sagarika Ghose said India is wallowing in a pit of moral degradation.
“No prime minister has ever set the bar for decency so very low,” said actor Siddharth.
Journalist Sidharth Bhatia said the mocking of Rajiv Gandhi is in shockingly poor taste. “But there are millions who will vote because they like to hear all of this,” he said.
‘Inferiority Complex’
Some Twitter users said attacking everyone in the Gandhi family from Nehru to Rahul shows his inferiority complex.
Talk About Real Issues
Alt News founder Pratik Sinha said voters should question why Modi is talking about the governance of all his predecessors, but not his.
President of Mumbai Congress Milind Deora said those who are deceased and unable to defend themselves must be insulated from politics. “We are being stripped of decency and real issues,” he said.
Dead Men Politics
Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said he is not angry with Modi for humiliating a dead man who cannot answer. “I pity him,” he said.
Another Twitter user asked why Modi’s politics is all about dead men, pointing to the time he asked for votes in the name of soldiers killed in Pulwama.
The Vajpayee Angle
Many quoted BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee who once said, “Rajiv Gandhi is why I am alive.”
“Great men never play dirty politics,” said one Twitter user.
Rahul’s Civil Response
There were also discussions on Rahul Gandhi’s response to the PM calling his deceased father ‘Bhrashtachari No1’. The Congress President had tweeted this in response to Modi’s statement.
With this tweet, Rahul Gandhi once again displayed his ‘beat hatred with hugs’ ideology that he had first displayed in a Parliament session last year where he went over to hug a dazed Narendra Modi amidst a debate. He has also said on many occasions that he has no hatred for the PM.
The tweet led many Twitter users like journalist Swati Chaurvedi to comment that Rahul Gandhi has taught Modi a lesson in civil discourse.
Journalist Barkha Dutt also said Rahul Gandhi’s response was dignified.
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