Rahul trolls PM, turns ‘ fitness challenge’ into ‘ fuel challenge’
Ministers in the BJP government have been exhibiting a sudden passion to showcase their fitness on social media and the party’s “fitness challenge” has gained momentum on Twitter. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, however, managed to dampen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s enthusiasm for displaying his fitness by throwing another challenge that the PM didn’t seem that enthusiastic about – the fuel challenge.
Earlier in the day, Mr Modi accepted cricketer Virat Kohli’s “fitness challenge” on Twitter and said he would post a fitness video soon. Mr Gandhi dived in as the best troll of the day and dared him to respond to his “fuel challenge”.
Mr Gandhi tweeted; “Glad to see you accept the @ imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response. # Fuel Challenge.”
Taking a cue from Mr Gandhi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also took a jibe at the Prime Minister and said, “Restore the economic fitness of common man by reducing the runaway prices of petrol/ diesel as you fleeced ` 10 lakh crore in four years by raising excise 11 times. Restore the job fitness of the young by giving two crore jobs as promised. Grant MSP fitness of Cost+ 50 percent profit to India’s farmers as you promised. Anti- corruption fitness by bringing back the ` 80 lakh crore of black money from abroad as you promised and punishing the corrupt in your government for various scams. National security fitness by stopping Pakistan- sponsored terrorism and Chinese incursion in Doka La and elsewhere.” Mr Surjewala said the nation must come first while urging people to “forget the media stunts” and accept the “governance challenge”.
Prime Minister is yet to
Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices...
— Rahul Gandhi, Cong chief
The All- India Congress Committee president, Rahul Gandhi has summoned the party’s senior leaders to New Delhi to finalise the names of leaders who would join the cabinet of the coalition government.
Together with UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, Mr Gandhi was present in the swearing- in of chief minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy and his deputy G. Parameshwara on Wednesday. During the meeting at a private hotel, Mr Gandhi told the party senior leaders to come to Delhi on Friday night. “After the floor test, senior leaders will fly to Delhi. Mr Gandhi has asked them to bring the list of aspirants for cabinet berths. He also asked the party to draw up a list of candidates who want to contest the council elections on June 11,” sources in the party said.
This is a clear indication that the party high command did not want to leave the selection to state leaders whom the Delhi leaders did not fully trust would do the right thing.
“As it is, everybody is coming out in the open and speaking about DCM posts. So, the central leaders decided they would take the call on the selection of the candidates and send a clear signal and avoid confusion,” sources added.
Congress got 22 berths in the 34- member ministry since Dr Parameshwar had already joined the cabinet, the party has to shortlist names for the 21 berths. “Since JD( S) won more seats in old- Mysuru region, Congress cannot give more representation to MLAs and MLCs from this region, sources said.