Rahul Gandhi Appeals for Civility Towards Smriti Irani After Election Controversy
In a rare move, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently took to social media to appeal for civility towards former Union Minister Smriti Irani. This comes after she made remarks about the Gandhi family, suggesting that an ordinary BJP worker had ousted them from Amethi. Gandhi, now the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, urged people not to use derogatory language or be mean-spirited towards Irani or any other leader.
“Winning and losing are part of life,” he tweeted. “Humiliating and insulting others reflects weakness, not strength.”
Though the specific incident prompting his appeal isn’t apparent, Gandhi has consistently advocated for a more compassionate style of politics. He often talks about wanting to foster a “shop of love” in contrast to the current atmosphere of hate.
Before the recent elections, there was speculation that Rahul Gandhi might face off against Smriti Irani in Amethi in 2024, while his sister Priyanka Gandhi would contest from Rae Bareli, their family stronghold. However, Rahul ended up contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, and Kishori Lal Sharma stood against Irani in Amethi.
When Sharma’s candidacy was announced, Irani commented that it symbolized the Congress’s admission of defeat in Amethi. She noted that this was the second time Rahul Gandhi had opted not to contest from Amethi, having done the same in 2019.
After her unexpected loss, Irani remained upbeat, thanking her supporters and emphasizing her enthusiasm for public service despite the outcome.
