People don't take 'entertainer' Rahul Gandhi seriously: BJP
Lucknow, April 19: The BJP on Thursday slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his two-day visit to Amethi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the people of the country do not take him (Rahul Gandhi) seriously.
Referring to the recent remarks of the Gandhi scion about Modi, party spokesman Chandra Mohan said the Congress and other opposition parties were jittery about the offensive launched by the BJP against corruption and hence, they were engaging in mud slinging.
Terming many remarks made by the Amethi MP as childish, Mohan told reporters that many acts of immaturity like standing in a queue outside ATMs during the post-demonetisation days, showing a hole in his kurta pocket and tearing ordinances, has made Rahul Gandhi a laughing stock in the eyes of the people.
"At best, his statements entertain the people... no one takes him seriously," the BJP leader said.
The Congress has not been able to digest its one after another defeat and also the fact that there was nothing they can charge the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government with, and hence they were making false and baseless allegations, Mohan added.
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Karnataka leadership row intensifies with minister's 'dog' remark
Bengaluru (PTI): The simmering leadership row in Karnataka took a sharp turn on Tuesday after Minister H C Mahadevappa made remarks invoking a High Court observation on stray dogs, drawing reactions from senior Congress leaders and the Opposition.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Monday, Mahadevappa, considered close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in cryptic remarks said, "Where is the discussion on leadership issue? The High Court says time and again to catch stray dogs and confine them. Here the political leadership is strong."
When asked to clarify whom he was referring to with the dog metaphor, the social welfare minister said he was only citing the High Court order.
"I was only referring to what the High Court had said. I do not know how you people perceive it," he added.
Mahadevappa's remarks come amid the ongoing speculation over the leadership tussle between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar. The minister also dismissed talk of any change at the top.
On the issue of leadership change, Mahadevappa said, "Who can give direction to the party high command? Can you and me direct it? It's they who can give us direction and not the other way round. What if tail wags the dog?"
Meanwhile, Shivakumar said he would not comment on Mahadevappa's remarks.
"I am not ready to react to Mahadevappa's statement. Not just him, but anybody. I had said this before as well. Siddaramaiah and our Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge have also spoken on our leadership issue," Shivakumar, who is also state Congress president, told reporters on Tuesday.
He added, "It is a decision taken by me, Siddaramaiah and the party high command. Time will answer what the decision was. There is nothing hidden in this dealing. Siddaramaiah himself will answer the people when the time comes."
Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh said he was unaware of the context of Mahadevappa's remark.
"I don't have the information whom Mahadevappa referred to as dogs," the former Lok Sabha member told reporters.
However, he added, "devout Congress leaders are not stray canines but honest dogs. They never ditch those who favoured them. They clear the debts of their master."
Congress MLC B K Hariprasad likened Shivakumar to a railway engine.
"Shivakumar is like the engine taking along the entire train but when it reaches a destination, he makes lots of noise and rouses vendors over there," he said while addressing mediapersons.
Meanwhile, taking a swipe at Mahadevappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said, "the statement construes that all the leaders in Congress are dogs."
"Congress leaders like dogs very much. Mahadevappa has subtly explained whether the dog is wagging its tail or tail is wagging the dog."
