Here are some of the most talked about statements made during Gujarat campaign.
As the campaigning for Gujarat assembly election finished today, voters can finally heave a sigh of relief after days of non-stop bickering between top political leaders.
From calling GST as 'Gabbar Singh Tax' to accusing Pakistan of meddling in Gujarat polls, both Congress and BJP left no stones unturned to make sharp jab at each others.
Here are some of the most talked about statements made during Gujarat campaign.
1. Gabbar Singh Tax
Stepping up his attacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi dubbed Goods and Services Tax (GST) as "BJP's Gabbar Singh Tax."
Addressing a public gathering in Gandhinagar on October before the Gujarat assembly election, Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP-led government for a "faulty tax regime that is destroying small businessmen and industries in the country".
Rahul Gandhi even tweeted the next day saying, “Congress GST = Genuine Simple Tax. Modi ji’s GST = Gabbar Singh Tax = yeh kamaai mujhe de de (give me the income).”
2. The Rahul Gandhi - Janeu Dhari controversy
It all started when Rahul Gandhi visited Somnath temple on December 29 and allegations started pouring in that the Congress leader is not 'Hindu'. This claim was based on the allegation that Rahul Gandhi was registered as non-Hindu when he visited the temple. BJP was quick to react and slammed the Congress leader for lying about his faith.
Congress then refuted the charge saying Rahul Gandhi is not only a Hindu but a “janeu dhari” (janeu dhari means the Hindus who wear the sacred thread that would reveal him as Brahmin). Congress also blamed BJP for deviating from the important issues.
After the controversy broke out, Rahul Gandhi also came forward and said he and his family are "shiv-bhakts" and they don't do "dalali" over religion and political gain.“My grandmother (Indira Gandhi) and my family are Shiv bhakts (devotees). But we keep such things private. We generally do not speak about them. Because, we think it is a very personal matter and we don’t need anyone else’s certificate about it… We don’t want to do ‘dalali’ over it. We do not want to use it for political purposes too.”
However, BJP leader Sambit Patra could not let go of the controversy and took a poetic dig at Rahul Gandhi and said the Congress leader changes his faith according to his political gain.
"Badaltey huye mausam ka badalta huya parwana hoon main. Gujarat mein janeudhari Hindu hoon toh UP-Bihar mein maulana hoon main. (With the changing weather I change myself. In Gujarat I am a Hindu and in UP-Bihar I am a Muslim)," Patra said while addressing a conference on December 6.
3. PM Modi's "Aurangzeb Raj" jibe at Congress
After Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers for the post of Congress president, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took direct jibe at Congress over dynasty politics. Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Valsad, PM Modi said, “I congratulate the Congress on their ‘Aurangzeb Raj’.”
“For us, the well-being and betterment of people matters because we consider 125 crore Indians as our high command,” PM Modi added.
The BJP attacked Congress over dynastic politics, contrasting it with their party, saying people from all kinds of backward get an opportunity to rise to the top like Narendra Modi, who sold tea in Gujarat is now the prime minister.
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4. Mani Shankar Aiyar's 'neech' remark
Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar created quite a storm when he referred Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "neech aadmi". "This person is a 'neech aadmi' (low-minded). He is not civilised and in a situation like this, there is no need to practise such dirty politics," Aiyar said.
The "neech" remark was not received well by both BJP and Congress and created massive controversy just before the polling. BJP attacked the Congress party for disrespecting the prime minister and said the "people of Gujarat will punish anti-poor, anti-Dalit, anti-Tribal and anti-OBC Congress".
Responding to Mani Shankar Aiyar's neech comment, PM Modi said,"Shriman Mani Shankar Aiyar said that Modi is of 'neech' (lower) caste and is 'neech' (vile). Is this not an insult to Gujarat? This is a Mughal mentality where if such a person (who comes from a humble background) wears good clothes in a village, they have a problem."
In a damage control move, the Congress then suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar from the party and issued him a show cause notice.
Rahul Gandhi also tweeted: "BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress party. The Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyer to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said."
5. With love from Congress
After the neech remark by Mani Shankar Aiyar snowballed, Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally took a subtle dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he will defeat the BJP with love not anger.
"Modi ji, Gujarat mein hum aapko pyaar se, bina gusse ke haraane jaa rahe hain (PM Modi, this time in Gujarat we will defeat you with love, with no anger, we will defeat you),” Gandhi said at a rally. "Modi ji keeps using bad words against me in his speeches, even today he did so. Rahul Gandhi respects the post of PM. No matter what PM says about me, but I won't utter even a single bad word about the PM,” the newly appointed Congress president added.
6. PM Modi's Pakistan-Ahmed Patel row
In perhaps the most significant statement of the entire polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that Pakistan was meddling in the Gujarat assembly election and sought answers from top leaders of Congress who are said to have held secret meetings with Pakistan officials.
“Why did you hold a closed-door meeting just before Gujarat polls? If it was so important, why did not you invite Indian officials also to attend it. Or reported it back to the Government of India. You must explain it,” PM Modi said while addressing a rally.
The prime minister alleged that former PM Manmohan Singh and other Congress minister held secret meetings with Pakistan's High Commissioner and Foreign Minister at party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's house just before the elections. The prime minister also raised questions over the alleged appeal by former director general of the Pakistan army, Sardar Arshad Rafiq, to appoint senior Congress leader Ahmed patel as the chief minister of Gujarat.
"(On one side) Pakistan Army’s former DG is interfering in Gujarat’s election, on the other side, Pakistan’s people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s house,” PM Modi said. The Congress also slammed PM Modi for making 'false accusations'. Rahul Gandhi said that the statement made by Modi about a former prime minister and other Congress ministers meeting Pakistan officials in "unacceptable".
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