Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, the former minister of state with independent charge of Power in the UPA government seems to be fast emerging as Congress’ face in Madhya Pradesh, and is expected to play a prominent role in the state elections next year.
He has been at the receiving end of a lot of ridicule recently, after it was reported on Tuesday that he has vowed to not wear a garland unless the ‘anti-farmer’ BJP government in the state is removed from power.
He announced this ‘magnanimous’ decision of his, during a rally at Meerkabad Panchayat in Mungaoli Assembly constituency of the state. He has been campaigning in that constituency after a by-poll was scheduled there due to the death of Congress MLA Mahendra Singh Kalukheda. Apart from taking his ‘vow’, Scindia was also heard attacking Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Such a ‘vow’ taken by the Scindia was soon noticed by Twitter users, who ridiculed him for his ‘sacrifice’:
And I won’t drink red wine till @INCIndia is ousted from #Karnataka #MahaanTyag ? https://t.co/Uk97ggdoJ3
— Smita Barooah (@smitabarooah) December 20, 2017
Garland? Vow toh dhang ka lo. Something challenging. Won’t eat butter chicken, won’t watch Sunny Leone, won’t wear kurta, won’t go to NDTV, etc. https://t.co/srsVjCmupz
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) December 19, 2017
Let me also take a vow. I’ll not eat karela till mamaji again wins in 2018. https://t.co/ZvBzMHvyiO
— one tip one hand_ (@OneTipOneHand_) December 20, 2017
The sacrifices royalty makes ! https://t.co/wcbNTUfDVO
— दिव्या (@divya_16_) December 20, 2017
Astonishing!! itna bada tyaag!?!
Scindia ji, in your vow you expose your feudal mentality, your addiction to obsequiousness, your shallow beliefs, and your pathetic colonial mindset.
‘ won’t wear a garland ‘
Pinch me someone.
This is the new India INC’ an.#ModiFor2019 https://t.co/ZoDDAHG8dv— geeta (@GeetaYahoo) December 20, 2017
Such sense of entitlement!!
Shrimant Saheb still thinks its his Right to get garlanded @SeCoolar_Right@Divsbabs@hamskat@ashu12175@swamy_raj@alpna25@NGJ1969@shobhitbansal1https://t.co/ag5j6LKlgy
— samy (@samiir) December 19, 2017
Some might argue that such a ‘decision’ by Scindia, brings forth his and his party elitist mindset, where their idea of ‘sacrifice’ is not wearing a garland, which is usually offered to revered personalities. This might also showcase that Scindia considers wearing a garland his right and a part and parcel of his public life, where he expects to be garlanded wherever he goes.
In the past, other political leaders too have been in the news, when it comes to garlands.
It was reported how in 2010, BSP supremo Mayawati came under the Income Tax scanner for being gifted a garland made out of now demonetised Rs 1000 notes. The garland was speculated to be worth about Rs 21 lakh but IT officials claimed that its value could be as high as RS 5 crores.
