A viral video of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi “partying” at a nightclub in neighbouring Nepal has triggered a war of words between the leaders of Congress and the BJP.
It got murkier during the day with the Congress posting photographs of senior leaders, including late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and incumbent Narendra Modi, portraying them in a bad light.
While the Congress defended Rahul saying he was in Kathmandu to attend a wedding of a friend, the BJP said Rahul was a non-serious politician who loved to enjoy party.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi called him a “full-time tourist and a part-time politician, who is filled with hypocrisy”.
Congress IT hit back by posting images of Vajpayee sharing a toast, former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar celebrating with champagne, and several other BJP dignitaries partying.
BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya who posted the video that went viral wrote, “Rahul Gandhi was at a nightclub when Mumbai was under seize. He is at a nightclub at a time when his party is exploding. He is consistent. Interestingly, soon after the Congress refused to outsource their presidency, hit jobs have begun on their Prime Ministerial candidate...”.
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BJP, Cong sling mud over Rahul's partying at Nepal nightclub
The video surfaced at a time when Union Minister Smriti Irani was paying a visit to Wayanad in Kerala which is the Lok Sabha Constituency of Rahul.
Congress said Rahul was in Nepal to attend a private wedding ceremony of a journalist friend, and, unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made a famous stop at then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's birthday some years ago, Rahul did not go uninvited.
"Rahul Gandhi has not gone as an uninvited guest like Prime Minister Modi went to Pakistan to celebrate the birthday and cut cakes for the then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif. Rahul Gandhi has gone to a friendly country Nepal to participate in a private marriage function of a friend. By chance, the friend also happens to be a journalist. So I think they are also abusing your fraternity," said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala at AICC press conference.
"Last when I checked, having a family in this country, having friends in this country, attending a marriage, engagement ceremonies is a matter of our culture and civilization. It has still not become a crime in this country to be married, to be friends with someone, or to attend their marriage celebration. Maybe after today, Prime Minister Modi and the BJP may decide that it is illegal to attend a marriage. They may say it is a crime to have friends or participate in family functions. But do let me know so that we all change our status, habits and civilizational practices of attending the marriage of friends as also family," he added.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore accused the BJP of spreading lies and enquired what was wrong with the Rahul Gandhi attending a private marriage reception, like a regular person.
"What is wrong with it when he attends a marriage reception? Why Sanghi's are afraid about him? Why Sanghi's are spreading lies? Every one of us attends private functions.(sic)" Tagore tweeted.
Fighting fire with fire, Tagore shared pictures of senior BJP leader and former Union minister Prakash Javadekar popping off bottles of champagne at an event.
Wading into the controversy, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra censured "BJP trolls" for their double standards and said what the Gandhi scion does in his personal life is nobody's business.