Udaipur, Nov 21, 2023 : The Rajasthan Election 2023 campaign took an acerbic turn as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s choice of words targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew sharp criticism from BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad. Gandhi’s reference to PM Modi as ‘panauti’ in the aftermath of India’s loss in the ICC World Cup final against Australia has stirred a political uproar.
Addressing a rally in Barmer district of Rajasthan, Gandhi indirectly associated PM Modi with Team India’s loss, stating, “Our guys were playing well, they would have won the world cup. But ‘Panauti’ made us lose. The TV guys won’t tell you this but people know.”
The term ‘panauti’ gained traction on social media following India’s defeat in the final, an event attended by PM Modi at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, expressing dismay over Gandhi’s choice of language, demanded an apology from the Congress leader for using such words against the Prime Minister. Prasad emphasized the significance of respectful discourse in politics, urging Gandhi to learn from historical incidents and cautioned against derogatory remarks, citing an example of similar language used in the past by Sonia Gandhi, Gandhi’s mother, against Narendra Modi.
“What happened to you, Rahul Gandhi? You are using such words for the Prime Minister of the country. Our Prime Minister met the players and motivated them. Winning or losing is part of the game. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologize,” Prasad remarked.
Campaigning intensifies in Rajasthan ahead of the upcoming state elections scheduled for November 25, with 199 out of 200 assembly seats set for contestation. The verbal sparring between political leaders sets the tone for an intense and charged electoral battleground in the state. (With inputs from agencies)
