CONGRESS YOUTH WING TAKES A ‘SELL TEA’ JIBE AT PM MODI, GETS SLAMMED
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday was roundly slammed on social media, after its youth wing made a derogatory and personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s beginnings as a tea vendor.
A meme tweeted by ‘Yuva Desh,’ the official handle of Indian Youth Congress’s online magazine, shows PM Modi, US President Donald Trump and UK PM Theresa May standing together, deep in conversation.
Modi is seen asking the two world leaders whether they have seen the memes of him put out by the opposition. He mispronounces the word ‘meme’ - actually pronounced ‘meem’ - instead, referring to it as ‘may-may.’
Trump is seen correcting him, while May tells him to ‘sell tea.’
The tweet did not go down well with many, politicians and others alike. Some reacted with indignation and annoyance, while others made fun of the Congress.
Gujarat chief minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani hit out at the “anti-poor” tweet, demanding to know if “Crown Prince” Rahul Gandhi suppported what was written.
This blatantly classist and anti-poor Tweet by the Youth Congress shows their mindset towards India’s poor.
“The nation saw the impact of ‘Maut Ka Saudagar’ jibe and Mani Shankar Aiyar’s abuses in 2014. Similar impact will be seen now. Congress has not only insulted PM but also 6 crore Gujaratis and 1.25 billion Indians,” BJP Sambit Patra said.
Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah called the tweet “political suicide.”
What is about elements of the Congress party that commit political suicide with such amazing regularity? This tweet is in such poor taste.
Faced with backlash from all quarters, the Congress sought to distance itself from the tweet.
“INC strongly disapproves & rejects such humour through memes. Differences on policy and opinion aside, Congress culture imbibes respect for PM and all political opponents,” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala wrote.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, the party’s national spokesperson, said that the tweet “does not go with Congress’ ideology.”
The ‘Yuva Desh’ handle deleted the tweet after the furore.
In January 2014, party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had mocked Modi’s prime ministerial ambitions, saying that a place will be identified for him to distribute tea at AICC meetings.
“I promise you in 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,” he had said at the venue of an AICC meeting.