Senior Cong leader gets suspended for calling Rahul Gandhi 'Pappu' on WhatsApp group
The Uttar Pradesh Congress has suspended a senior leader after he referred to party vice president Rahul Gandhi as 'Pappu' in a Whatsapp post. Vinay Pradhan, who had lauded Gandhi's attempts to reach out to Mandsaur farmers in his string of posts, has repeatedly referred to him as 'Pappu'.
This comes in the aftermath of Rahul Gandhi's recent foreign trip that has left many of his party men demoralised given the present political scenario in the country. The party's announcement to launch a 'Hak Mango Abhiyan' for farmers in coordination with the opposition parties in Wednesday has also failed to boost the morale of other party members.
The Bharatiya Janata Party reacted immediately, saying Pradhan's punishment exposes the Congress' sycophancy. "Punishment for 'Pappu' followed quickly, but there was no penalty for calling the army chief a roadside goon," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Sunday used 'sadak ka goonda' (roadside goon) to refer to the Army chief General Bipin Rawat. Rahul, however, admonished Dikshit, saying, it was unacceptable to try and 'do politics with the army'. The BJP, on the other hand, claimed that Dikshit has been let off with a rap on the wrist, but Pradhan was summarily suspended.
Rejecting that he was mocking the Congress vice-president, Pradhan said he will meet Rahul once he returns from abroad and offer explanation. "Rahul Gandhi is my leader, and I have never disrespected him. I would never dream of using a derogatory word like that for him. This is a conspiracy against me by some people within the party to malign my image so that they can take over the reins of the district Congress," he said.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said Pradhan's punishment is not over the top. "We have only suspended him, it's the smallest punishment," he said.
But Rahul's trip at this moment, when the party was building up an euphoria against the government on the issue of farmers killing in Madhya Pradesh has perplexed many.
It had a tell-tale effect newly announced 'Hak Mango Abhiyan' campaign. In the first phase of the campaign, the party plans demonstration at district headquarters in states affected by farm distress. But party leaders said, they will announce further programme once Rahul returns to India.
Senior party leader Raj Babbar told a press conference that the farmers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh or rather all over the country are fighting for their rights and the Congress will back them through a nationwide campaign.
Party chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, "BJP government plans to spend 1.05 lakh crore by the year 2020 to benefit only 2.7 per cent of already developed area occupied by the city's rich" in the name of Smart City project. He said, "Cat's out of the bag. BJP's Smart City project is an 'Unsmart' scam for making money through real estate and tech players.... It proves that BJP cares a fig for the urban middle class or poor as it is a Govt of and for the super rich."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Rahul Gandhi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}