The political dispute stemming from Rahul Gandhi’s “panauti” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified into a social media poster battle on Friday. The Congress labeled the PM as “Panauti-e-Azam,” while the BJP retaliated, branding the Gandhi family as the “real panauti” of the nation. The term “panauti” is a Hindi slang loosely implying someone who brings bad luck.
The poster clash ensued a day following the Election Commission (EC) issuing a show-cause notice to Rahul Gandhi for his remarks, including “panauti,” “pickpocket,” and “loan waiver for the super rich,” targeting Prime Minister Modi. The EC instructed him to respond by Saturday. The BJP had filed a complaint with the poll panel, asserting that the language used by the former Congress president was inappropriate for a “very senior leader.”
The Congress put out a poster on X in which Modi is shown behind a curtain with the words “PANAUTI-E-AZAM” written on it.
Hitting back at the Congress, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla put out another poster which had the names of “Priyanka, Rahul, Sonia, Rajiv, Nehru, Robert and Indira” written and the term “PANAUTI” highlighted using the letters of the names of the Gandhi family members mentioned in the poster.
“Ye hain Bharat ke liye asli Panauti (these are the real Panautis for Bharat),” the poster headline says.
In a social media post on X featuring the poster, the BJP leader stated, “Bharat ki asli PANAUTI—P-Parivarvaad (dynastic politics), A- Aatankwaad (terrorism), N- Nepotism, A- Absolute corruption, U- Underperforming economy, T- Tushtikaran (appeasement), I – Ignoring National int for votebank.” On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi had remarked, “PM means Panauti Modi,” referring to India’s defeat to Australia in the Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The BJP strongly criticized Gandhi’s comments and demanded an apology for his “shameful and disgraceful” statements.