Rahul Gandhi blaming PM Modi for World Cup loss makes objectionable comment

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, speaking at an election rally in Balotra, Rajasthan, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as “Panauti Modi”, news agency PTI reported. Speaking at a rally in poll-bound Rajasthan on Tuesday, Gandhi indirectly blamed PM Modi for the Team India’s loss at ICC World Cup 2023. Making a reference to India’s defeat in the event attended by the Prime Minister, Rahul stated, “PM stands for ‘Panauti Modi.”

The word panauti is associated with bad luck. The Congress leader further said Modi “comes on TV and says “Hindu- Muslim” and sometimes goes to a cricket match. It is a different matter that the match was lost. Panauti.”

Slamming Rahul’s remarks as “shameful and disgraceful”, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad reportedly demanded an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “panauti (bad luck)”. Rahul Gandhi drew flak from the BJP leader over his comments against PM Modi. Prasad questioned the usage of such a word for the Prime Minister of India and asked the Wayanad MP to apologise.

“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 apologise,” Prasad was quoted.

The BJP demanded an apology from the Congress leader. “Rahul Gandhi must apologise…else we will make this issue very serious,” former Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CM Ashok Gehlot, state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara and party leader Sachin Pilot, along with others, launched the party’s election manifesto for Rajasthan Assembly elections to be held on 25 November in Jaipur today.

The party has promised up to Rs 2 lakh interest-free loan for farmers, a law to guarantee MSP as per the Swaminathan report, a caste census in the state, and an increase in the amount of “Chiranjeevi Health Protection Insurance” among others.

In other news, as per orders issued by the Election Commission of India (EC), re-polling at a booth in Ater assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district was held today.

The repolling was scheduled because of a breach of secrecy as some people allegedly shot videos of voting on 17 November at the booth concerned in Kishupura, officials said. Four members of the polling team have been suspended in the matter.