With BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressing Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as “Shahzada” in his recent public speeches, the Congress on Saturday took umbrage and said use of undignified words would not be tolerated. The ruling party also threatened that its workers were capable of stopping use of such language within just two days, but were restrained due to respect for laws and the Model Code of Conduct.
“The way Rahul Gandhi is being addressed and criticised by the use of words like ‘Shahzada’ and alike, this conduct is not dignified in a democracy. The Congress workers are not reacting out of respect for the Model Code of Conduct and laws of the country, and are thus quiet. Otherwise, the use of such words can be stopped in two days. We don’t want such a situation to arrive,” said Janardan Dwivedi, Congress general secretary.
Modi has been using “Shahzada” to address Gandhi publicly in the recent past and reiterated it at his Udaipur rally on Saturday too. He referred Rahul Gandhi as Shahzada at least nine times. The party said it expected its vice-president be addressed in the same manner in which he addresses others, with respect.
Defending Gandhi’s speech where he had invoked Muzaffarnagar riots, Dwivedi said the motive behind Gandhi’s remarks should be understood as he said communalism in any form should be opposed and condemned.
Accusing Gandhi of “inciting riotous behaviour” through his speeches at poll rallies, the BJP has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission seeking action against him and the Congress for “willful and blatant” violation of the Model Code. The EC is currently scanning Gandhi’s speeches and have sought their copy, along with a report, from poll officials.
Attacking the BJP, the Congress General Secretary said issues which do not have any meaning are being blown out of proportion in a bid to seek political mileage. “We have been seeing for a long time now that some people do politics even on very sensitive issues,” Dwivedi stressed, adding that Gandhi had said communalism in any form should be opposed.
In a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP in rallies in Churu and Alwar in poll-bound Rajasthan, Rahul alleged “politics of anger and hate” was fanning communal tensions and damaging the country’s secular fabric.
“If a Hindu spreads communalism and hatred and suspects every Muslim, then he is supporting cross-border forces which are anti-India. Similarly, a Muslim fundamentalist is also strengthening the hands of those organisations which are spreading communalism and hatred in the country, though I do not wish to name them,” Dwivedi said while seeking to explain the context of Gandhi’s hatred remarks.