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Cong, JD(U) rebuke Choubey for his controversial remark on Rahul Gandhi
Congress spokesperson Gourov Vallabh said the BJP had exposed its “fake respect” for Hindu traditions by insulting Gandhi when he is on a pilgrimage to the Kailash Mansarovar shrine
Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey was rebuked by opposition parties and his Bharatiya Janta Party’s partner in Bihar’s ruling coalition, the Janata Dal (United), after he made offensive remarks against Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday.
Congress spokesperson Gourov Vallabh said the BJP had exposed its “fake respect” for Hindu traditions by insulting Gandhi when he is on a pilgrimage to the Kailash Mansarovar shrine. “We pray God grants wisdom and better sense to BJP leaders so that they don’t make such remarks. BJP’s politics is depreciating like the rupee,” he said.
Reacting sharply to Choubey’s remarks,the officiating president of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) Kaukab Quadri said: “BJP high command must take note of the irresponsible comments of Choubey. He should be asked to exercise restraint. Choubey and BJP chief Amit Shah should also tender an apology to Rahul Gandhi.”
In remarks on the sidelines of a public programme in Sasaram on Saturday, Choubey questioned Gandhi’s mental health and said he himself was engaged in an effort to make the country “Congress-mukt”, or Congress-free.
“Since he is unable to face the might of Modi alone, he is relying on the grand alliance (mahagathbandhan) to challenge him, which will not work,” said Choubey in the less offensive of the remarks he made.
Former Bihar deputy CM and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav wrote in a Twitter post that he prayed to God to bless Choubey with some good sense, saying the BJP politician had lowered political discourse to a new level.
BJP state president and MP Nityanand Rai avoided a direct reply when asked about Choubey’s remarks, saying that he was not aware in what context the Union minister had made the comments.
JDU spokesman KC Tyagi said his was a dignified party and its president and chief minister Nitish Kumar always stood for adhering to dignity in public life. “There may be political differences, but that does now allow any space for disgraceful comments,” he added.
