Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday came in the line of fire of the Modi Government and the BJP besides social media users as he tweeted pictures of the dog squad of Indian Army doing yoga and captioned it “New India”. Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh accused the Gandhi scion of insulting the Defence forces and mocking the International Yoga Day while the BJP said life is one continuing joke for the Congress president.
The pictures in the tweet by Rahul Gandhi showed the Army dog unit and their trainers prostrating as part of celebrations of International Yoga Day and soon after he invited trouble for himself on social media.
Home Minister Amit Shah was the first to take on Rahul saying while the Congress supports the medieval practice of triple talaq, it insults the armed forces yet again. He also accused the Congress of spreading negativity. “Congress stands for negativity. Today, their negativity was seen in their clear support to the medieval practice of Triple Talaq. Now, they mock Yoga Day and insult our forces (yet again!) Hoping the spirit of positivity will prevail. It can help overcome toughest challenges,” Shah tweeted. The Congress opposed the Triple Talaq Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Taking potshots on Rahul’s comments, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that he wished good sense prevails upon the Congress leader and he realises that even the canines are proud members of the Indian Army and they contribute to the safety of our nation. Rajnath also took a dig at Rahul saying he prayed for his “sadbuddhi” (good sense).
The BJP said for Rahul, life is only about a joke, as he keeps posting pictures about his pet dog. “It’s painful to see how a senior politician is ridiculing IYD2019. But this is hardly surprising as they have always been apologetic about and hence pooh-poohed everything rooted in Indian Culture and traditions. Is it vote bank politics that is driving them to do this,” BJP national vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe asked on Twitter.
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there is a new India and Rahul’s tweet reveals a new Congress under him. “Perhaps for him, life is one continuing joke for him and looking for opportunities to post pictures that remind him of his favourite Pidi (his pet dog),” he said.
Rahul was also trolled on Twitter with a number of people posting pictures about the Congress while poking fun at him and the party. He was also targeted by new young BJP MP Tejasvi Surya who said that it’s sad that Rahul still hasn’t learnt his lessons. “Ok. He still hasn’t learnt his lessons. In one go, he has insulted our Army, brave Jawans, the incredible dog unit, Yoga tradition & our country. I feel really sad for all the young Congress workers (if there are any left) that they have to deal with this man as their leader,” said Surya in a tweet.