Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on December 13 slammed the Prime Minister Modi-led Union government during the special debate on Constitution in Parliament alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) considers “Manusmriti above Constitution”.
The Raebareli Member of Parliament (MP) invoked the famous story of Eklavya alleging that by bringing in lateral entry into government jobs, the Modi government is chopping off the thumb of youth, backward class people, and the poor.
“There was a boy (Eklavya) who did tapasya, woke up early in the morning with bow and arrow. Tapasya matlab sharir mein garmi paida karna (penance means creating warmth in the body),” he said, triggering laughter across the House,” Rahul Gandhi said speaking during a debate on the 75 years of the Constitution of India in Lok Sabha citing the instance from the Mahabharat stating that sought the thumb of Eklavya as an honorarium.
“Just like Dronacharya chopped the fingers of Eklavya, you (the government) have chopped the thumb of the youth of the country,” the LoP said.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Eklavya’ and ‘tapasya’ comments elicited response from BJP leaders who poked fun on the former Congress president, particularly for saying “tapasya” was meant to generate heat in the body.
‘Undisputed king of bloopers’
“This round goes to Rahul Gandhi. He remains the undisputed king of bloopers,” BJP’s IT department head Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
BJP spokesperson and Member of Parliament Sambit Patra said that Gandhi’s knowledge was from US billionaire George Soros.
The BJP and the Congress lawmakers have traded allegations against each other over the last week, with the BJP linking the Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi to US billionaire George SorosWinter Session of Parliament,with INDIA bloc moving a motion seeking the removal of Rajya Sabha chairmanJagdeep Dhankhar.