After the polling concluded last evening, the media was abuzz with exit polls which predicted a second term for Prime Minister Modi. While half the ‘liberals’ of the country were visibly upset and fanning the fear that they won’t get to eat beef ever again, others were busy writing obituaries for Congress. Like psephologist-who-usually-gets-it-wrong, Yogendra Yadav.
The Congress must die.
If it could not stop the BJP in this election to save the idea of India, this party has no positive role in Indian history. Today it represents the single biggest obstacle to creation of an alternative.My reaction to @sardesairajdeep https://t.co/IwlmBmf75d
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 19, 2019
While interacting with India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, who went on to discredit his own channel’s survey after sensing that Modi emerges victorious in the exit polls, Yogendra Yadav said, “Congress should die. This was an election for the soul of India. At stake was the very idea of India. And if this party called Congress which says it stands for constitutional values, which says it stands for secular India, cannot put up a resistance, cannot put fight against the BJP, it has no reason to exist. This party has finished its historic role in India. Today Congress represents the biggest single obstacle in the path of creating an alternative.” He added that if the current trends (BJP winning and NDA government returning at centre) continue, we badly need an alternative to ‘this divisive politics’. He added that establishment opposition has failed to do so.
A friendly reminder that Yogendra Yadav had urged Delhi voters to vote for NOTA (none of the above) in the recently concluded general elections where his former party Aam Aadmi Party was contesting on all seven seats.
Of course, Yadav’s views didn’t quite go down well with Congress supporters.
Delete this tweet, Yogendra. Lot of people look up to you for a soothing sane voice. Congress has a role to play in protecting Indian democracy, as much as you do. Their failure should not make us lose our equanimity.
— Sasidharan Pazhoor (@inquestioner) May 20, 2019
Unfortunately, Congress also has to fight against people like you….sorry…but lost respect for you today….even Modi did not say such harsh things
— Niranjan Takle (@niranjan_takle) May 19, 2019
‘Liberals’ from all walks of life came together to condemn this comment against The Family.
Yogendra Ji – How could you say this? I am sorry, you just sound like Amit Shah.
It is not the responsibility of the Congress or Rahul Gandhi alone to save the idea of India. This attitude of India’s liberals blaming Congress for everything has brought India to this stage. https://t.co/YgQ713FGMn— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) May 19, 2019
Amazed by this comment. If the Swarajya party can get it together, great – but to use these words for the valiant battle fought by @INCIndia and @RahulGandhi, even if unsuccessful, is distasteful to say the least. https://t.co/2jc7NAPmjd
— Karuna Nundy (@karunanundy) May 19, 2019
Some ‘independent journalist’ also wished that Yadav should die just because he thought the grand old party should die.
This chutiya must Die! https://t.co/e4wLf1kKv4
— Rajesh Baghel (@rajeshbaghel90) May 20, 2019
After the ‘backlash’ from ‘liberals’, Yogendra Yadav lagbhag backtracked his statement.
My expression “no positive role in Indian history” may have caused some confusion. I cannot possibly deny the great role of Congress before and immediately after independence.
What I meant was “no positive role left to perform in history anymore”. Stand by that. https://t.co/4xJh3gwopj
— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 19, 2019
While the actual results are yet three days away, the meltdown of freedom of expression champions is most amusing, to say the least.
