War of words over ‘Yuvraj’

It all started when Congress MP Dr EM Natchiappan referred to Rahul Gandhi as a “Yuvraj” of the party. HT Correspondent reports.

First time MP Rahul Gandhi sits in the Lok Sabha, but a mere mention of his name in the Rajya Sabha led to a prolonged war of words among several elders on Monday. It all started when Congress MP Dr EM Natchiappan referred to the Gandhi scion as a “Yuvraj” of the party.

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Natchiappan’s words led to members of the BJP, Left and the Samajwadi Party charging the Tamil Nadu MP with sycophancy and using expressions against the spirit of democracy. Speaking on the discussion on the working of the Rural Development ministry, the Tamil Nadu MP said leaders should follow the example of the Congress leader who had recently locked horns with district administration officials in Bundelkhand over the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP). He referred to the young Gandhi as the “Yuvraj” (prince).

Brinda Karat of the CPM, who had initiated the discussion, and Amar Singh of the Samajwadi Party objected that the reference was “highly objectionable and against democracy.”