BJP’s 'soot-boot' jibe at Rahul Gandhi, party claims Congress chief wore Rs 70,000 jacket to Meghalaya event

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday got a taste of his own medicine after the BJP took a "soot boot" jibe at him for allegedly wearing a jacket worth Rs 70,000. 

The Congress chief was on a visit to Meghalaya where he was spotted wearing a jacket which the BJP claimed costs US$ 995 (Rs 63,381). 

Alleging that the jacket was bought with the "black’ money fleeced from Meghalayan State exchequer by rampant corruption," the Meghalaya BJP said that Rahul instead could have given a report card of the state government. 

"So @OfficeOfRG , soot(pun intended!)-boot ki sarkar with ‘black’ money fleeced from Meghalayan State exchequer by rampant corruption? Instead of singing away our woes, you could have given a report card of your inefficient govt in Meghalaya! Your indifference mocks us (sic)" Meghalaya BJP tweeted. 

So @OfficeOfRG , soot(pun intended!)-boot ki sarkar with ‘black’ money fleeced from Meghalayan State exchequer by rampant corruption? Instead of singing away our woes, you could have given a report card of your inefficient govt in Meghalaya! Your indifference mocks us! pic.twitter.com/sRvj5eoyRb

— BJP Meghalaya (@BJP4Meghalaya) January 30, 2018

Officially launching the Congress campaign for the state assembly elections, Rahul also attended a musical event in Shillong on Tuesday. 

The jacket he wore to the event is two-in-one down puffer jacket from Burberry, which is a British luxury fashion brand, ANI reported. On the Bloomingdales website, the cost of the jacket was listed as Rs 68,145, the report said. 

Worried about him gelling with the Meghalaya way of life?
Because Meghalaya is definitely not ready for hypocrisy & jumlebaazi as their way of life ;) #DontWorryBeHappy pic.twitter.com/g7oPDLNxfo

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) January 30, 2018

The BJP's tweet was in retaliation to Rahul Gandhi’s “suit boot” jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who worn a monogrammed suit during a meeting with US President Barack Obama in 2015.

The base price of the suit at an auction was Rs 11 lakh, and it was sold for Rs 4.31 crore.

The Congress president was in Shillong to kick off the election campaign of the party in poll-bound Meghalaya. Mr Gandhi also addressed the Meghalaya PCC Executive Meeting yesterday.

“Huge crowds, excitement and energy here in #Meghalaya, where we launched our campaign today for the assembly elections. My family and I have had a special bond with the people of the North East and I enjoy renewing and strengthening that bond with every visit,” Rahul said on his Twitter account. 

Gandhi also spoke at the 'Festival of Peace' concert as he listened to the musical bands enthralling the 4,000-plus crowd, who braved a cold winter evening to attend the festival.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi interacts with the audience at the 'Celebration of Peace' event. #OneMeghalaya pic.twitter.com/wUHqly1caV

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 30, 2018

The polling for the 60-member state assembly will take place on February 27 along with Nagaland. The results will be declared on March 3. 

Noted bands such as 'Soulmate' and 'Emperical Tribe' besides cultural troupes of the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos performed at the festival.

The Congress, which has been in power for nearly 15 years in the state, organised the concert to woo young voters for the February 27 elections.

(With agencies)