Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday lambasted Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his insensitive remark on Indian Air Force pilots. Citing a half-baked report, Gandhi scion had said, “It is written clearly here that Prime Minister of India is a thief. He has stolen 30,000 crores from you, the defence ministry is objecting to his interference. Mr Anil Ambani is his man, and Mr Anil Ambani has been given 30,000 crores of your money. Now, my friends in the Air Force pilots, remember one thing, this 30,000 crores could have been used for your safety, this 30,000 crores could have been given to your family, this 30,000 crore could be given to you, when you die in a plane crash. This is your money, this not the money of Anil Ambani”.
https://twitter.com/RavinarIN/status/1094106225719951360
Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s nauseating and disgusting remarks, Smriti Irani said, “Ye (Rahul Gandhi) vo sajjan hain,jo ek sarvajanik manch par baith ke kehte hai ki agar tum shaheed ho jaoge toh main paise de dunga.Rajneeti chhodkar manavta ki dristi se dekhein toh iss sajjan ki mansikta ka ye sanket hai,’haan thik hai mar jaoge,paise bhej dunga'” (Rahul Gandhi says that if you (IAF pilots) die on duty, he would give money. Leave aside politics; if you look at it from a humanitarian angle, it indicates his mindset). She made these remarks at an event in Delhi.
#WATCH: Union Minister Smriti Irani says,"Ye (Rahul Gandhi) vo sajjan hain,jo ek sarvajanik manch par baith ke kehte hai ki agar tum shaheed ho jaoge toh main paise de dunga." pic.twitter.com/gUsU1Fz0Vk
— ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2019
Money is not valuable than human life and that too if they are guardians of the nation. But sadly, Rahul Gandhi doesn’t understand this. He is expecting fighter airplanes to crash and waiting to compensate the officers so that he can become great in the eyes of the public. Perhaps, the Congress president is not aware of the fact that compensations can’t return the life of martyrs. Smriti Irani rightly lambasted him for his insensitive remarks.
Rahul Gandhi’s insensitive remarks ended up hurting the feelings of those who lost their near and dear ones in such crash.
This hurts….very deeply….to devalue the lives of our courageous and selfless air warriors and nations defenders by linking it to monetary gain…. we have lost so many friends and such statements reopen wounds. Please respect and recognize sacrifices without talking money.
— Meghna Girish 🇮🇳 (@megirish2001) February 9, 2019
Read this response to his comments by someone who has seen this very closely https://t.co/dDuryZGweJ
— Aadit Kapadia (@ask0704) February 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/anand_2000v/status/1093951095569817601
Social media users expressed their anger on Rahul Gandhi’s statement.
Embarrassing: Rahul Gandhi is comparing the martyrdom of the soldiers with money, criticizing all around
It is noteworthy that the two fighter Pilots Squadron Leader Sameer Abrol and Siddharth Negi of the IAF had died due to crash of the Fighter aircraft. #lostpilots pic.twitter.com/VFFhRw4euD— nitish dua (@NitishDuaDelhi) February 9, 2019
"These 30000 crores could have been given to you, when you die in a plane crash"
What arrogance!!
He is telling IAF pilots he can compensate for their lifes, by saving money on weapons!Reason behind "Flying Coffins" MIGs is clear now.#Rafale pic.twitter.com/o53hERCjG9
— Anirudh Singh Rathore (@Anirudh_SR) February 9, 2019
Rahul Gandhi crossed all limits of stupidity, insensitivity, shamelessness whn he said "This 30,000 cr can be given to ur families when u die in a plane crash" while addressing IAF personnel during a PC today!! Wht kind of ppl would want to see him as "King"😠😠#RahulLieCaught pic.twitter.com/3zDAaxckQA
— 🇮🇳 Rajalakshmi Joshi 🇮🇳 (@rajalakshmij) February 8, 2019
This is Congress Party for you.
"Let IAF Pilots fly 50 year old aircrafts , don't buy new ones. Once they crash give money allocated to buy new aircrafts to pilots family".
Congress Party like the British has no value for Indian lives. pic.twitter.com/QW9OPajG5n
— Jayess Modi Ka Parivar (@Sootradhar) February 8, 2019
Mr. Rahul Gandhi, is there any limit to your Insensitivity? – Do you realize the loss of families when a Pilot dies in an Air Crash? | @vinirish writes a powerful piece responding to @RahulGandhi s insensitive remark #Rafale #IAF https://t.co/rb1PHWe3Jz
— MyIndMakers (@myindmakers) February 8, 2019
Disgusting. Rahul Gandhi said "this 30,000 cr can be given to your families when you die in a plane crash"
He was addressing to the IAF personnel when he made the comment in the press conference today. pic.twitter.com/1OMKVJXtzR
— Girish Bharadwaj (@Girishvhp) February 8, 2019
Rahul Gandhi has been making these insensitive remarks since long and his ‘Khoon Ki Dalali’ remark bolsters the notion that he gives no heed to the valour of the army and the sacrifices it makes. His newfound love of IAF pilots is all for political and electoral reasons. For him, National Interest and National Security are secondary and winning an election is the priority.
Such comments on the part of the president of the oldest party are bad for the morale of the soldiers and pilots in the IAF. The cabal thus has to decide whether it still wants to install him as the PM of the country. The soul trembles even with thought as to what would happen to the country if Rahul Gandhi ends up leading it at a time of crisis. It would be a repeat of ‘Himalayan blunder’.