Lucknow. Controversy arose over Uttar Pradesh Minister of State Dinesh Pratap Singh’s objectionable statement on Wednesday against Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is contesting from Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. In protest against the comment, a Congress official Anil Yadav wrote abusive words on the gate of Singh’s official bungalow in Lucknow. Justifying his comment, the Minister of State said that he had made that comment while using his ‘right’. He also termed top Congress leaders as ‘escapeists’ and ‘parasites’.
The controversy started when Minister of State Dinesh Singh, who hails from Rae Bareli and was previously in the Congress, said in a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) without naming anyone, “Finally the girl could not fight and ran away.” Where there is no need to fight. The old woman who has become.” BJP Legislative Council member Singh used the hashtag ‘Wayanad Lok Sabha by Election’ with his post. The minister’s post is being seen as an attack on Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Vadra had given the slogan “I am a girl, I can fight” to awaken the spirit of women empowerment during the 2022 assembly elections.
In protest against the objectionable remarks against Vadra, Congress State General Secretary (Organization) Anil Yadav blackened the name plate of Minister of State Dinesh Singh at his official bungalow in Lucknow with black spray paint and also wrote ‘Chor, Dishonest’ on the gate.
Later, while talking to reporters, Yadav said that any such comment against his party leader will not be tolerated.
No complaint has been lodged in this regard so far.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Dinesh Pratap Singh justified his comment and told PTI-Video, “I had tweeted, this is my right. Being a citizen of India, I had asked Priyanka Gandhi why no one from your Gandhi family contests elections from Delhi.” He said, “They (top Congress leaders) fear that our love shop will not function in Delhi. That’s why they don’t open shops and go somewhere else, so we asked the question that you have gone to Wayanad. You came here as the party in-charge of Uttar Pradesh and gave big slogans that I am a girl, I can fight, but she fled so quickly. It was not expected that you would leave Uttar Pradesh.”
Singh said, “As a citizen, I had asked a question and after not answering it, some leaders of the fugitive Priyanka Gandhi came and wrote something in ink on the gate. So I think that as will be the leaders, so will be the workers. I don’t think we should have any discussion on such light people.” Describing the top Congress leaders as escapists, he said, “Sonia Gandhi also left Rae Bareli and went to Rajasthan. Priyanka Gandhi left Rae Bareli and went to Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi also left Amethi and came to Rae Bareli. So they run and run, these people are escapists. So will be their workers who secretly did their work and went away.” Singh also said, “How long will you remain a parasite?” How long will your family remain a parasite at the expense of others? “Try yourself once in Delhi.”
Dinesh Singh had contested the Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli this year on a BJP ticket against former Congress President Rahul Gandhi but lost. Congress state president Ajay Rai, reacting to the minister’s post, said on ‘X’, “This is Dinesh Singh, a minister in the UP government and BJP leader who lost the parliamentary elections badly. Look at their language and thoughts about women. When women come out to contest elections, they have to listen to the bad language of hundreds of such scoundrel people.” He also shared a screenshot of the minister’s post. He said, “Such people have become ministers in the BJP government, hence the condition of women safety is bad in the state.”