Youth Congress meme on PM's 'chaiwala' past kicks up storm


New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI): In a potentially self-damaging act ahead of the Gujarat polls, the Congress' youth wing today circulated a meme about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'chaiwala' past, provoking a backlash from the BJP, and prompting a red-faced Congress to distance from it.

The meme that unleashed a political firestorm contained photograph of Modi, US president Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May engaged in a conversation.

Modi is seen telling the two leaders about the opposition's memes targeting him. He mispronounces the word as "mainmain". Trump corrects him, saying the word is pronounced as "meem", while May tells him to go and sell tea.

Though the meme was removed soon after it was put out, the Congress faced a virtual fusillade from the BJP which excoriated the opposition party for targeting the prime minister over his humble background, and demanding an explanation whether the meme had the approval of the party leadership.

"This blatantly classist and anti-poor Tweet by the Youth Congress shows their mindset towards Indias poor. Does Crown Prince @OfficeOfRG support this?," Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said in a tweet.

Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, J P Nadda and Piyush Goyal also hit out at the Congress over the post. The official Twitter handle of BJP chief Amit Shah retweeted all such posts put out by the ministers.

"The arrogance of the Congress Party and shameful anti- poor stand gets exposed from the official twitter of the Youth Congress that a person born in poverty in the family of a tea vendor cannot become the Prime Minister. No lessons learnt. Insulting popular mandate.

"Madam Sonia Gandhi and Mr Rahul Gandhi do you still believe that only you have a divine right to rule India?" Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a series of tweets.

He said the country expects the two leaders to respond to the meme which is "shameful and insulting" to poor, he said.

Moving in to contain the damage

Congress communications incharge Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter, saying "Congress strongly disapproves and rejects such humour through memes. Differences on policy and opinion aside, Congress culture imbibes respect for PM and all political opponents."

An off the cuff remark by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that Modi can never become the prime minister, and that if he wants the party can give him a place at its convention to sell tea, had given the then BJP's prime ministerial nominee a stick to beat the Congress with.

Rally after election rally, Modi targeted the Congress over Aiyar's jibe to claim the then ruling party at the Centre was anti-poor.

Modi was, in fact, so enthused by the response that he got from cheering crowds while calling himself a 'chaiwala' that he even launched a campaign 'chai pe charcha' to connect with voters.

Recalling the price the Congress paid for the swipe, National Conference chief and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said the tweet is in poor taste and dubbed it as a "political suicide" for the party.

"What is about elements of the Congress party that commit political suicide with such amazing regularity? This tweet is in such poor taste," he tweeted.

Union minister J P Nadda tweeted: "A tweet can be deleted but not the mentality which brands masses as 'Cattle class' and 'Mango people'. They cant fathom a Chaiwala leading the nation. Gujarat Shall Answer!!."

Another union minister Piyush Goyal said, "Congress has once again displayed its anti-poor mindset through such tweets. Upcoming elections will be another reality check for them."

Chastised, the Indian Youth Congress, apologised for the meme.

"Although the handle @Yuvadesh is being run by youth volunteers and not by @iyc, we do not approve of such humour and apologise.

"Despite political differences with the BJP & having suffered everyday abuse from their leaders, we respect the Prime Minister & all political opponents," Youth Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja tweeted.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Harrisgowda, Kunigal tumkur

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    BJP can can abuse anybody with derogatory and humiliating statements on any opposition party they can call barwala, peeping Tom, nikamba PM etc nobody is there to question there acts democracy is owned by bjp and there bhakts

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Desi Admi, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    Means, BJP has won the elections..... again!! Could have congis timed it better......!
    You give Modi a handle and he will convert it into a bamboo and the opposition knows where that bamboo finds its place eventually!!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vijay Benedict, Mangalore/ Mumbai

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    Congress could not digest what had happened in 2014 and in other subsequent dates in different states. But sadly too, they cannot think beyond fake gandhi family. Congress paddling like crazy sitting on a leaking boat.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    What's WRONG in that meme? It is 100 % Truth!!! When same Chaiwala says "500 crores girlfriend " "Mouni Singh " "having bath with raincoat" "Nikamba PM" are all these OK for Chaddis?????? If you are abusing others, you should also have a heart inside your 56" to absorb, otherwise 56" is made by WAX "PUTLA"

    DisAgree [3] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Clifford Fernandes, Toronto

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    I saw his wax putla at Madame Tussauds, London.

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Zuahir, Udupi/Muscat

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    Meanwhile BJP MP Paresh Rawal has also tweeted in reply to Yuva desh " Chaiwala is much better than Bar wali" and later deleted his tweet. our media seeks accountability from congress for its volunteers tweet but no accountability from BJP for its own MP's pathetic tweet... such is a state of our media...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bollu, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    BJP is on the loosing side.How can people forget the cheap and derogatory remarks made by Modi and BJP during 2014 elections.How can people forget the outrageous comments made by BJP and likes of Togadia on Sonia Gandhi? Now BJP is playing sympathy card because clearly they are on the receiving end as far as their own game is concerned.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    What is bhakt's response to our present honorable PM who talk lightly & entertain by cracking low level jokes(peeping tom - bath room jokes) by referring to incredible intellectual of par excellence across the globe Shri Manmohan Singji....,

    While taking note of such low level crowd entertaining pot shots ...., in my view..., the credibility of office of PM never been so low in the history of Hindustan thus far...., within & outside of Hindustan...,

    jh
    jai hind...,

    DisAgree [8] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • PINTO, Doha/Qatar

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    Agreed that Youth Congress meme was in bad taste.But then if you look at the way former PM MM Singh was ridiculed when he was in power one must say that BJP is getting the taste of their own medicine.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aravind, Blr

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    Sir, this was started by Congress with Maut Ka Saudagar comment by none other than Sonia Gandhi and chaiwala chide by Manishankar aiyyar. What taste of own medicine are you talking about?

    DisAgree [10] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • PAM Suvarna, karla

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    These jobless scam party members are thrown out of power since long time,hence they do all these nonsense gimmicks.Instead of involving in some pro-developmental work,they are wasting their time with these kind of nuisance.
    For sure,these gimmicks will bounce back against them during next election time.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Wed, Nov 22 2017

    What is done here is wrong. But, Modi has himself proclaimed that he is a chaiwalla and gathered sympathy votes in 2014, announcing chai pe charcha in every corner.
    Now his party leaders give threat to cut the head, hand and fingers, that also is not good. BJP has used the dirtiest language on all opposition parties during state elections. Whether the tree is sandalwood or acacia, axe cuts all.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse


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