Amidst a heated exchange of words between political factions, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Leader of the Opposition, Vijay Wadettiwar, condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly leveraging the late former President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter, Sharmistha Mukherjee, to defame Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.
Wadettiwar, in a conversation with ANI, accused the BJP of using Sharmistha Mukherjee to tarnish Rahul Gandhi’s image, stating that they always felt threatened by Gandhi and resorted to such strategies to defame him.
Expressing admiration for Pranab Mukherjee’s legacy, Wadettiwar hinted at a probable hidden agenda by the BJP in utilizing Sharmistha Mukherjee to undermine Rahul Gandhi’s stature. He emphasized Pranab Mukherjee’s contributions, questioning the intent behind Sharmistha’s recent statements and accusing the BJP of orchestrating such tactics to discredit individuals.
Wadettiwar praised Rahul Gandhi’s integrity, acknowledging his dedicated efforts and vision for the nation, and highlighting Gandhi’s hard work and honest image.
Regarding Sharmistha Mukherjee’s forthcoming book about her father, she made assertions in a recent interview suggesting Pranab Mukherjee’s dissatisfaction with Rahul Gandhi’s irregular presence in Parliament post the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. She also referenced an incident where Rahul Gandhi opposed an ordinance proposed by the Congress government in 2013 concerning the disqualification of convicted leaders from Parliament.
In response, Wadettiwar speculated on Sharmistha Mukherjee’s possible divergence from the party’s stance and cautioned against defaming their leader, insinuating a differing political trajectory for her.
The ongoing exchange between parties exemplifies the polarized environment within Indian politics, with accusations, defenses, and assertions being made in the public arena over these sensitive statements.