Congress, which had suffered a devastating defeat in 2014 general elections, is poised to face another embarrassment in the upcoming 2019 general elections. A part of nation’s support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and disgust towards the Congress could be attributed to loud mouth Congress leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar who by their casteist and insensitive remarks about the then PM candidate had created an environment of disgust towards Congress in 2014. Now, giving tough challenge to Mani Shankar Aiyar in the run-up to the 2019 general elections is Sam Pitroda, a close confidant of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and a part of Congress manifesto committee for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Mani Shankar Aiyar in the run-up to the general elections had made the infamous ‘Chaiwala’ jibe for Narendra Modi.
“I promise you in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. …But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him,” Aiyar had said at the venue of the AICC meeting in January of 2014.
Mani Shankar Aiyar’s comments on Narendra Modi didn’t go down well with the nation, with many considering the comment to be against people with humble backgrounds. BJP, taking on the hate, had turned around Mani Shankar Aiyar jibe and created a whole new campaign ‘chai pe charcha’ which connected with Indian voters.
However, Congress’ headaches were not over yet, Mani Shankar Aiyar was again in the spotlight when in an interview he referred Narendra Modi as ‘Neech aadmi’ with a direct reference to his caste roots which saw widespread criticism not only from outside but from within the Congress.
Speaking to ANI, former Union minister had said “Ye aadmi bahut neech kisam ka aadmi hai, is mein koi sabhyata nahi hai, aur aise mauke par is kisam ki gandi rajniti karne ki kya avashyakta hai? (This man is a low-life person, he isn’t cultured… at this moment why does he need to practice such dirty politics?).”
After this condemnable slur, Rahul Gandhi had to intervene to save face from another big embarrassment and Mani Shankar Aiyar had to apologize and was suspended from the Congress.
Sam Pitroda taking the baton this election has been giving tough challenge to Mani Shankar Aiyar, by his insulting and illogical remarks. Sam raised the bar set by Mani Shankar Aiyar by dissociating Pakistan with the deadly terror attack in Pulwama, he said:
“Eight people (26/11 terrorists) come and do something, you don’t jump on entire nation (Pakistan). Naive to assume that just because some people came here and attacked, every citizen of that nation is to be blamed. I don’t believe in that way” essentially washing off Pakistan’s responsibility for terror in the region.
In another Incident relating to NYAY scheme, when questioned about the increase in taxes to fund the 3.6 lacs Crore NYAY scheme , Sam Pitroda made insensitive remarks for the Middle-class Indians and reffered to them as ‘selfish’. He said:
“Taxes may go up but I do not think that’s a major issue”. In the very next sentence he went on to speak in a condescending tone about the middle class and asked them to not be selfish. He stressed that, “Don’t be selfish, have big heart,” in a very derogatory and insulting manner.
However, not learning from past lessons, Sam Pitroda has again made comments which might not go down well with the Indian electorate. A new video has surfaced which shows Sam Pitroda comparing Indians to monkeys. Twitter user Dahaval Patel tweeted:
https://twitter.com/dhaval241086/status/1114411028874506241
Illogical and insensitive comments by Congress leaders has further alienated them from ground realities of the Indian electorate and is sure to hurt Congress’ prospects for the upcoming elections.