NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged his supporters and other detractors of former minister Smriti Irani to refrain from using derogatory language against her.
“Winning and losing happen in life. I urge everyone to refrain from using derogatory language and being nasty towards Smt. Smriti Irani or any other leader, for that matter. Humiliating and insulting people is a sign of weakness, not strength,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted on X, formerly known as Twitter. He underscored that demeaning individuals is indicative of weakness rather than strength.
This sportsmanship behaviour of Gandhi comes weeks after the Lok Sabha election results. on June 4, where Smriti Irani, former Union Minister, conceded defeat in the Amethi constituency of Uttar Pradesh to Congress veteran Kishori Lal Sharma. Irani lost by a substantial margin of 1.6 lakh votes, marking a significant electoral upset in a traditionally competitive constituency.
In response to her loss, Smriti Irani expressed gratitude to her supporters and party workers for their unwavering dedication. She acknowledged the transformative efforts undertaken by the BJP-led governments at both the state and central levels, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for their roles in advancing developmental initiatives in Amethi.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi secured a resounding victory from Raebareli, a stronghold of the Congress party, with a commanding lead of 4 lakh votes. Gandhi also contested from Wayanad and won that seat as well. He later relinquished the Kerala constituency.
The results were totally opposite in comparison with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi in his stronghold, Amethi, by a margin of over 55,000 votes.
The aftermath of the 2024 Lok Sabha election saw contrasting statements from both leaders, highlighting the competitive yet nuanced nature of Indian politics. Rahul Gandhi’s appeal for mutual respect and dignified behavior reflects a broader call for constructive engagement and unity, despite electoral outcomes. However, It isn’t clear what prompted Rahul Gandhi’s appeal.