In a sharp reaction to the alleged sexist remarks made against her by a Congress leader in Uttar Pradesh, Union minister Smriti Irani said on Monday that both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should get their “misogynistic goons” a new script writer. Irani also dared Rahul to contest the 2014 elections from Amethi.
"Heard one of your provincial leaders have announced in an indecent manner that you would contest from Amethi in 2024. So is it definite that you will contest from Amethi? You won't run off to another seat? You won't be afraid??? PS: You & Mummy ji need to get your mysoginistic goons a new speechwriter," she tweeted in Hindi, tagging Rahul.
Currently, Amethi is represented in Lok Sabha by Irani who had defeated Rahul by a margin of 55,120 votes in the 2019 elections.
Irani's tweet came after UP Congress leader Ajay Rai said that the minister comes to her constituency Amethi only to show "latkas" and "jhatkas", an unflattering reference to dance moves.
"Most of the factories in Amethi are on the verge of closure. Half of the factories in Jagdishpur industrial area are lying shut. Smriti Irani only comes, shows 'latka-jhatka', and leaves," Rai, who is a regional chief of the party, said earlier in the day.
To a question on whether Rahul will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, Rai said Amethi seat is of the Gandhi family, and "it will remain so."
Rai's remarks on the Union minister has stirred up a political storm with the BJP terming them as “anti-women”.
"The language used by the Congress has always been anti-women. It shows the culture and mindset of the Congress. And a party, which has given a woman prime minister to the nation, and which was headed by a woman president for a long time, such statements from its leader, is definitely shameful,” said UP BJP spokesperson Anand Dubey.