In Gujarat, BJP carried out a peaceful, but unique, protest against the classist and anti-poor jibe by Congress by offering tea at Congress headquarters in Surat.
BJP Gujarat MLA Harsh Sanghvi and BJP Delhi spokesperson Tajinder Bagga today reached Congress office and other parts of the city offering tea, celebrating the humble beginnings of the Prime Minister who once sold tea at Vadnagar Railway Station. The BJP leaders chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ slogans walked towards Congress office and offered them tea.
कदम कदम पे कांग्रेसियों की नींद उड़ाने वाले देश के सबसे बेहतरीन युवा नेता @TajinderBagga जी और @sanghaviharsh जी ने आज फिर कांग्रेस दफ्तर पर हल्लाबोल किया। pic.twitter.com/sSXXk6Yld0
— काशी वाले बाबा।। (@Kapilagr26) November 22, 2017
Speaking to OpIndia, Sanghvi said, ‘We put up slogans, “Chai bechta hu, desh nahin” to show that Modi sold tea, not nation. He further added that this protest ticked off Congress workers who were not happy with BJP workers serving them tea. Congress tried to create minor ruckus, but things didn’t go too far since BJP leaders ensured them that they are there only for peacefully offering them tea and nothing else.
The protests were in response to the tweet posted by @YuvaDesh, the official Twitter handle of the Indian Youth Congress’ online magazine yesterday.
As seen above PM Modi is seen complaining against the “May Mays” which the Opposition was making against him. Trump was thus seen enlightening Modi about the correct pronunciation of “meme”, Theresa then very condescendingly asked Modi to go and sell tea.
This meme by the Youth Congress magazine reeked of an elitist mindset where a humble and respected profession of a tea seller is considered menial and “classless”. It also showed the youth magazine’s contempt for individuals with a modest upbringing who as per its viewpoint were beneath those enjoying an unearned privileged lifestyle.
Also this isn’t the only time such elitism has been displayed by those associated with the Congress party. In 2014 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar too had made a comment that:
I promise you in 21st Century Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. …But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him
This was believed to have ticked off many voters who felt that it exposed the anti-poor side of the Congress party and exposed the dichotomy of their “gareebi hatao” rhetoric. Perhaps the party leaders have now learnt the lesson and ahead of the crucial Gujarat polls, chose to rapidly distance the party from the antics of its youth magazine, but clearly, the damage has already been done.
