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Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, has strongly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's loyalists, whom she referred to as "bhakt-chelas." Her remarks come in response to allegations against her late father, who was labeled a "Sanghi" by some Congress members for visiting the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sharmistha posed a direct challenge to Rahul Gandhi's followers.She pointed out what she perceives as hypocrisy, questioning why they haven’t held Rahul Gandhi accountable for hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Parliament debate in 2018.She posted, “Rahul’s bhakt-chelas who call my father ‘Sanghi’ for his RSS visit, I dare them to question their leader on why he hugged @narendramodi in Parliament, whom his mother called ‘maut ka saudagar.’ By their convoluted logic, Rahul then should be seen as his accomplice.”
Sharmistha also expressed her disdain for the Congress ecosystem, tweeting, “All the best to @RahulGandhi to revive Congress with this bunch of vicious fools & sycophants! Now go & unleash your ‘Nafrat ki dukandars’ on me. I give a damn!”
Rahul’s Bhakt-chelas who call my father ‘Sanghi’ for his RSS visit, I dare them to question their leader on why did he hug @narendramodi in parliament whom his mother called ‘maut ka saudagar’? By their convoluted logic, Rahul then should be seen as his accomplice.
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) December 30, 2024
Clash Between Siblings: Sharmistha and Abhijit Mukherjee Exchange Words
Sharmistha’s ire wasn’t limited to Rahul Gandhi’s loyalists. She also took aim at her brother, Abhijit Mukherjee, over his defense of the Congress party. Abhijit, a former Congress MP, downplayed Sharmistha’s allegations that no Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting was convened after their father’s demise.
Abhijit responded by attributing the absence of such a meeting to the Covid-19 restrictions in place during 2020. Speaking to ANI, he remarked, “When my father died, it was Covid-19 time. "There were a lot of restrictions in place which is why people could not gather.”
He added that despite these limitations, Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, paid their respects. Addressing Sharmistha’s claim about the missing CWC obituary, he said, “I think what she is referring to is that there was no separate CWC meeting for his obituary initially, but they corrected this later.”
Abhijit also heaped praise on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling him a “perfect gentleman” and a reformer who stabilized the Indian economy during challenging times. His comments appeared to shift the focus from the controversy to Singh’s legacy.
Sharmistha’s Fiery Rebuttal to Brother
In a sharp rebuttal to her brother’s statements, Sharmistha posted on X, calling him out for allegedly trying to curry favor with Congress for personal gain. She wrote, “Shame is on the person who, for some petty crumbs, wants to rejoin a party whose followers abuse his father day-in & day-out in the vilest manner.”
Sharmistha also made a pointed reference to her brother’s controversial “dented and painted” remarks from 2012, which had sparked outrage during the Nirbhaya protests. She tweeted, “He is truly ‘dented-painted.’ SICK!”
Background of the Controversy
The disagreement between the siblings comes amidst ongoing tensions within the Congress party. Sharmistha Mukherjee has been vocal about her dissatisfaction with the party’s treatment of her father’s legacy, while Abhijit appears to be more aligned with Congress narratives.
This public spat highlights not only familial discord but also the broader challenges facing the Congress party as it grapples with internal criticism and external opposition.
