Smriti Irani Fires Back at Congress Over Amethi
Union Minister and BJP leader, Smriti Irani, expressed her sentiments regarding Rahul Gandhi’s decision not to contest elections from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, considering it a significant gesture from the Gandhi family. She regarded it as a historical moment, symbolizing the relinquishment of the so-called bastion by the Gandhis.
Check out her recent remarks in the latest news update
And Irani emphasized that Rahul Gandhi’s decision reflected the acknowledgment of her significance in the political landscape, as his absence from Amethi implied a shift in focus by the Congress party towards her. She considered it a tremendous compliment, indicating her pivotal role within the political arena.
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These remarks by Smriti Irani were prompted by a tweet from senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who asserted that Irani’s sole claim to identity stemmed from contesting elections against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. Ramesh further suggested that with Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Raebareli, Irani’s relevance in the political narrative had diminished.
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In response to a tweet by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, where he asserted that Smriti Irani’s identity solely revolved around contesting elections against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, Irani dismissed the claim, emphasizing the need for focusing on local development issues instead. Ramesh’s tweet suggested that with Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Raebareli, Irani’s political relevance had diminished.
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During an interview with India Today TV, Smriti Irani commented on the Congress’s decision, portraying it as a significant moment in political history, as the Gandhi family relinquished their stronghold in Amethi. She highlighted Rahul Gandhi’s previous departure from Amethi in 2019 to contest from Wayanad, noting that the family’s retreat from Amethi signified a momentous event, echoing sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister during his Lok Sabha interviews.
Irani criticized the Congress for what she perceived as deception towards the people of Wayanad, suggesting that Rahul Gandhi should have been transparent about his intentions to contest from another constituency alongside Wayanad. She argued that the revelation of this decision after the polls undermined the trust of the electorate in Wayanad.
In response to inquiries regarding her contributions to Amethi over the past five years, Smriti Irani delivered a sharp retort, suggesting that the Gandhi family’s decision to vacate the constituency spoke volumes about her impact.
She emphasized that amidst challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, significant strides were made under PM Modi’s leadership, including the provision of housing, sanitation facilities, water connections, gas connections, and electricity to numerous households in the region.
Irani’s assertive remarks came shortly after Rahul Gandhi submitted his nomination for the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, thereby concluding speculation surrounding his potential contest against the BJP MP in Congress’s former stronghold. Concurrently, Congress loyalist KL Sharma filed his nomination from the Amethi seat, slated for polling in the fifth phase on May 20.
Rahul Gandhi, a three-time MP from Amethi, faced defeat at the hands of Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, marking a significant victory for Irani and earning her the epithet of a “giant killer” due to her triumph by a margin exceeding 55,000 votes.
