Continuing his caste rhetoric, yesterday (24th August), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that no SC, ST, or OBC woman has ever won the Miss India contest. Incidentally, it is a beauty pageant that is organised by private entities and doesn’t have reservations. Nonetheless, the Congress leader made this remark about the Miss India winners while alleging that 90% of Indians don’t have representation within the system and demanding a nationwide caste census, sparking a fresh controversy. He claimed that he had checked the list of Miss Indias and could not find a SC, ST or OBC name in it. Soon, netizens slammed Rahul Gandhi for doing caste and religious profiling of beauty contests.
Several BJP leaders also took a jab at the Gandhi scion while pointing out that his remarks were not only factually incorrect but also wreaked casteism and were an attempt to divide the country. Some of the BJP leaders pointed out the factual inaccuracy in his bizarre commentary. Others said that he was now asking for reservations even in beauty contests adding that the Congress leader could soon do it also in the entertainment and sports fields. A few of the BJP leaders lambasted Rahul Gandhi dubbing his intellect as infantile (Bal Buddhi), and divisive or stressing that he needed a mental health check-up.
Notably, it all started yesterday afternoon. While addressing an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Rahul Gandhi said, “…I checked the list of Miss India to see if there would be any Dalit or tribal woman in it, but there was no women from Dalit, tribal or OBC. Still the media talks about dance, music, cricket, Bollywood but does not talk about farmers and labourers.”
#WATCH | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "…I checked the list of Miss India to see if there would be any Dalit or tribal woman in it, but there was no women from Dalit, tribal or OBC. Still the media talks about dance, music, cricket,… pic.twitter.com/D2mKNs4jzt
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024
Reacting to his remarks, BJP leader and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju lashed out at Rahul Gandhi describing him as ‘Bal Budhi’ and a ‘divisive man’. Saying that the Congress leader was now asking for reservations in Miss India competitions, films, and sports, Rijiju described it as a ‘Bal Budhi’ issue. He also charged Rahul Gandhi’s supporters for being equally responsible for the same.
Rijiju wrote, “Now, He (Rahul Gandhi) wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports! It is not only issue of “Bal Budhi”, but people who cheer him are – equally responsible too!”
The Union Minister noted that while the ‘Bal Budhi’ can be a source of entertainment, he asked the Congress leader to not ridicule backward classes as part of their ‘divisive strategy’.
Now, He wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports! It is not only issue of "Bal Budhi", but people who cheer him are – equally responsible too!
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 25, 2024
बाल बुद्धि मनोरंजन के लिए अच्छी हो सकती है पर अपनी विभाजनकारी चालों में, हमारे पिछड़े समुदायों का मजाक न उड़ाएं। pic.twitter.com/9Vm7ITwMJX
Rijiju further criticised Rahul Gandhi stating, “Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji can’t divide our country…But he can’t see 1st Tribal President, OBC PM, Record Numbers of SC/ST Cabinet Ministers!”
In a scathing attack, he made another post in which he called Rahul Gandhi a ‘divisive man’ adding that they won’t allow another partition to make him the country’s Prime Minister.
Kiren Rijiju asserted, “His grandfather divided India to become Prime Minister, but we will not allow another partition of India to make this divisive man the Prime Minister.”
उनके दादा प्रधान मंत्री बनने के लिए भारत का विभाजन किया, लेकिन हम इस विभाजनकारी व्यक्ति को प्रधान मंत्री बनाने के लिए भारत का एक और विभाजन नहीं होने देंगे।
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 25, 2024
In another tweet, the Union Minister reminded the Congress leader that Miss India is a private beauty contest. He said, “Rahul Gandhi Ji, Governments don’t select Miss India, Govts don’t select athletes for Olympics, and Govts do not choose actors for Films!”
Rahul Gandhi Ji, Governments don't select Miss India, Govts don't select athletes for Olympics, and Govts do not choose actors for Films! https://t.co/hQPkM6njc9
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 25, 2024
Reacting strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said that the Congress leader needed treatment and a mental health check-up. He argued that the Gandhi scion was habitual of enjoying power and since he has been out of power, he is acting akin to a fish out of water. He added that Rahul Gandhi gets rattled when someone asks him about his caste identity and claims that he is being abused.
VIDEO | "Rahul Gandhi needs treatment, his mental health check-up needs to be done. The most worrying is that he wants to know the caste of everyone but he doesn't want to reveal his. When it was asked to him, he said that he has been abused, then asking other people's caste… pic.twitter.com/YoDgThWfbc
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2024
Tiwari said, “Rahul Gandhi needs treatment, his mental health check-up needs to be done. The most worrying is that he wants to know the caste of everyone but he doesn’t want to reveal his. When it was asked to him, he said that he has been abused, then asking other people’s caste would also be abuse. Every kid has talent in the country. Since he was in habit of being in government, and since he is out of power, he is reacting as if a fish has been taken out of water.”
Speaking with ANI, Manoj Tiwari said, “The biggest question is, why does he want to divide the country into castes?… He also needs to tell everyone what caste he belongs to…”
#WATCH | On LoP Rahul Gandhi's caste census statement, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, "… Why didn't he get a caste census done when his party was in power and he a had a big role to play in the government?
— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2024
The biggest question is, why does he want to divide the country into… pic.twitter.com/p4As6nStaa
BJP leader Kapil Mishra said that Rahul Gandhi was running away from the main question and that is “Who snatched away the work of Dalits, tribals, and OBCs, who took over their work?”
Mishra asked, “Today every job like barber, tailor, plumber, painting, craftsmanship, AC repair, car repair, fruit and vegetable supply, bakery, has been taken over by a particular religion. Rahul Gandhi is making Hindus fight among themselves but is running away from the real question. Make Hindus fight in the name of reservation but don’t talk about those who took away the real jobs. How will this work.”
राहुल गांधी मिस इंडिया की जाति पूछ रहें हैं लेकिन असली सवाल से भाग रहें हैं
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) August 25, 2024
दलितों , आदिवासियों , OBC का काम किसने छीना , किसने उनके कामों पर कब्जा कर लिया ?
आज नाई, दर्जी, प्लंबर , पुताई , कारीगरी , ac रिपेयर , कार रिपेयर, फल सब्ज़ी सप्लाई , बेकरी हर काम पर एक ख़ास धर्म ने… pic.twitter.com/AbH9BJ7fFO
Additionally, several BJP National Spokespersons, party functionaries, and state leaders also lashed out at Rahul Gandhi.
Karnataka BJP leader Sunny Raj said that Rahul Gandhi is a disaster, and people who cheer him are equally responsible too. He tweeted, “Now, Rahul Gandhi wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports.”
Now, #Rahul_Gandhi wants reservations in Miss India competitions, Films, sports.
— Sunny Raj (@SunnyRajBJP) August 25, 2024
Pappu is a Disaster, and People who cheer him are equally responsible too! pic.twitter.com/LlLpIHPlfz
Some BJP leaders reminded him that as recently as two years ago, a tribal contestant won a beauty pageant against the false claims of the Congress leader. They also charged Rahul Gandhi of dividing the country on caste lines.
Yesterday, @RahulGandhi claimed that SC-ST-OBC individuals have never won Miss India.
— BJPShanthikumar (@BJPShanthikumar) August 25, 2024
In November 2022, Riya Ekka from the tribal district of Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, won the Miss India title.
Before making such baseless accusations, Rahul Gandhi should get his facts straight and… pic.twitter.com/BdHHda2SDD
BJP leader from Maharashtra, CT Pallavi asked, “As a woman, I find this statement so SEXIST, so offensive. Rahul Gandhi says that in Bollywood or in the list of Ms India, you will not see a Dalit or an Adivasi or an OBC. Does he mean to say that these girls are NOT beautiful or NOT intelligent?”
As a woman, I find this statement so SEXIST, so offensive
— PallaviCT (@pallavict) August 24, 2024
Rahul Gandhi says that in Bollywood or in the list of Ms India, you will not see a Dalit or an Adivasi or an OBC
Does he mean to say that these girls are NOT beautiful or NOT intelligent?
Is that why they keep MOCKING… pic.twitter.com/xdfmy5znre
BJP National Spokesperson Pradip Bhandari wrote, “Not long ago, just 2 years back, a tribal girl from Chhattisgarh, Miss Riya Ekka, won the Miss India title. Rahul Gandhi’s plan is divisive and it’s full of falsehood.”
Not long ago, just 2 years back, a tribal girl from Chhattisgarh, Miss Riya Ekka, won the Miss India title.
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) August 25, 2024
Rahul Gandhi's plan is divisive and it's full of falsehood pic.twitter.com/vMJXGRwBwX
इस कुढ़ मगज़ को अब “ मिस इंडिया” में भी आरक्षण चाहिए , ये देश के प्रधानमंत्री के उम्मीदवार हैं , ऐसे लोगो को ये देश वोट भी दे देता हैं । दोषी कौन ?@RahulGandhi या वो लोग जो इनको चुनते हैं ? pic.twitter.com/bH5rZfTDZf
— Dr Ajay Alok (@alok_ajay) August 25, 2024
Manushi Chillar, is a Jat, OBC from Haryana
— Radhika Khera (@Radhika_Khera) August 25, 2024
Shehzad Poonawala slammed the Congress leader saying, “Rahul Gandhi is now down to caste profiling & religious profiling of Ms India winners (which is a private competition/ event)…What is clear is that Rahul Gandhi is neither serious nor truthful about this issue. By the way who made the first Adivasi as President of Bharat – NDA”
