Following notice served to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by the Election Commission (EC) for his alleged remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling him “panauti” (harbinger of bad luck), Opposition leaders said that the issue has been blown out of proportion in view of the ongoing elections.
The ECI issued a show-cause notice to Gandhi during the day for his “panauti”, “pickpocket” and loan-waiver remarks targeting the PM and asked the Congress leader to respond by Saturday evening. The BJP had approached the poll panel against Gandhi claiming it was “unbecoming” of a senior leader to use such language.
Also Read:EC serves notice to Rahul Gandhi over ‘panauti’ remarks during election rally
‘Congress reacts to ECI notice’
Reacting to the ECI notice, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the remarks have been hyped up.
During a media interaction on Thursday in Nagpur, Kharge stated, “The ECI can send the notice. There is no issue with it. This whole remark issue has been reiterated and hyped up in the face of the elections. We will respond to their notice,” ANI reported.
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule on Thursday said that Gandhi is a fighter and will give an “honest and dignified” reply to the notice issued by the Election Commission.
Also Read: ‘Shameful’: BJP demands apology from Rahul Gandhi over ‘panauti’ jibe at PM
“He is a fighter and he will fight. I am confident he will put up a brave fight and will not be scared of anyone. I am sure he will give an honest and dignified answer to the EC’s notice,” Sule, the working president of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, told reporters.
Slamming the BJP, Sule said, “We have so many examples of BJP talking about his family. So, now if he speaks something, why is there a need to feel bad. They (BJP) had even talked about his great grandfather.”
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel also condemned the BJP questioning whether the BJP government would now send notices to everyone after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi made a remark linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence to Team India’s loss to Australia in the World Cup Final match.
Also Read: WATCH VIDEO | Rahul Gandhi takes ‘panauti’ dig at PM at Rajasthan poll rally
“It was said by people…Will they now send notice to everyone, as it was trending on social media? Rahul Gandhi said the people were already saying…,” Baghel said while speaking to ANI.
ECI notice to Rahul Gandhi:
The Election Commission issued the notice based on the BJP’s complaint, accusing Rahul Gandhi of making ‘wild allegations’ and speaking ‘derisively and offensively about the PM’ during an election rally in Rajasthan. The ECI reminded Gandhi that the Model Code of Conduct prohibits leaders from making baseless allegations against political opponents.
Clause 2, subsection (ii) of section 123 states that any person who induces or attempts to induce a candidate or an elector to believe that he, or any person in whom he is interested, will become or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure, shall be deemed to interfere with the free exercise of the electoral right of such a candidate or elector, the notice reminded Gandhi.
What was Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Panauti’ remark?
During a public rally in Balotra, Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi allegedly said, ‘Panauti… panauti… Achha bhalaa hamare ladke wahaan World Cup jeetne waale the, par panauti harwaa diya. TV waale ye nahin kahenge magar janta jaanti hai (Our boys were going to win the World Cup, but panauti got them defeated. TV channels will not say this, but the public knows).’
Referring to India’s defeat in the cricket World Cup final, Rahul had blamed Modi’s presence in the stadium. ‘PM matlab Panauti Modi,’ he had said.
While comparing Modi to a “pickpocket”, Rahul alleged that while the PM diverts attention, industrialist Gautam Adani exploits the public. He also claimed that Modi had granted loan waivers amounting to Rs 14 lakh crore to the wealthy over the last nine years.