“Rahul Gandhi should be tied to a bomb and sent to another country” – BJP minister

Dubai: As politicians across India continue to get booked for making derogatory remarks or inciting communal tensions, a new statement by a lawmaker appears to have pushed the discourse even lower.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pankaja Munde, Minister of Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare in Maharashtra, said yesterday that Congress President Rahul Gandhi should be tied to a bomb and sent to another country for asking for proof for the Balakot strikes.

The statement was made in the presence of Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis BJP state unit chief Danve Raosaheb Dadarao.

The background

India had struck the area of Balakot in Pakistan on February 26 in response to the February 14 attacks in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 46 Indian paramilitary soldiers. Those within India asking the government to provide proof of the strikes and damage have been termed the ‘Saboot gang’ or ‘Evidence gang’ by the BJP. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday, said that the Saboot gang had let down the country, according to a report by Indian newspaper Business Standard.

Online reaction

Online users spoke out against the dropping standards of political discourse as the ongoing general election entered its third phase.

Tweep @stepbystep407 shared the news reports, that were going viral online, and wrote: “Pankaja Munde(BJP): ‘Tie a bomb to @RahulGandhi’s body and send him to another country.’ Just imagine the chaos if the situation was vice versa. #Intolerance #Election2019”

Another user @joseph_vengal commented: “Our politicians can stoop to any level, whether educated or not, whether young or old!! God knows what this lady will contribute to the society!!”

Tweep @bimalpandia commented on the BJP fielding controversial politicians, like terror accused Pragya Thakur, writing: “Wah wah... @narendramodi ji. She [Munde] is an asset for you. Quickly make her the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Your search for such good leaders is getting easier with each passing day.”

Several leaders have been booked by the Election Commission of India during the general elections. However, many Twitter users felt temporary ban from campaigning was not having the desired effect and tagged the Election Commission’s official Twitter handle – @ECISVEEP – to demand action.

Another Twitter user, @darkguyshashi questioned: “So, why is @ECISVEEP so selective? What about the various comments made by BJP leaders including the Honourable PM? Pankaja Munde talks about bombing Rahul Gandhi.. nothing being done.. is this election truly free and fair?”

Pankaja Munde’s father, Gopinath Munde, was also a BJP politician and died in a car accident in 2014.

Tweep @sadhavi commented on how both Gandhi and Munde had lost their fathers tragically and urged politicians to raise the level of political conversation. She tweeted: “Does politics need to be so negative? The #LokSabhaElections2019 campaign has reached an all-time low. The name calling, insults, and belittling jabs between @BJP4India & @INCIndia do not reflect well on them and strengthens my belief that politics is dirty and deceitful.”