The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday lashed out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for 'insulting' Mahatma Gandhi and subsequent remark questioning how many leadership positions are with women in RSS.
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday lashed out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for 'insulting' Mahatma Gandhi and subsequent remark questioning how many leadership positions are with women in RSS.
Rahul Gandhi, who is in Meghalaya to campaign for his party for the February 27 assembly election, criticised the RSS over alleged lack of importance to women in the organisation, saying the presence of women in a leadership role there was "zero".
"Does anyone know how many leadership positions in RSS are in the hands of women? (It is) Zero," he said speaking at St Edmunds College.
"If you see a picture of Mahatma Gandhi, you will always find women on this side, women on that side, women behind. But if you see a picture of Mohan Bhagwat, he will always be alone or surrounded by men. He will never be surrounded by women," he said
However, offended BJP Meghalaya tweeted, "We take offense to the insult hurled by @OfficeOfRG on Bapu’s legacy with his comment! We take offence to Cong Prez outraging the modesty of women power, reducing their relevance to physical proximity to senior leaders! Congress dared to insult Matrilineal society of Meghalaya!."
The tweet was retweeted by BJP's National General Secretary Ram Madhav.
In series of tweets, RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha said, "There is a commonality between @OfficeOfRG and China, both are severely pained by growing influence of RSS in the North East! What the Congress has done for the North east?"
"...Invite Priyanka Gandhi in the Shakha of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, @OfficeOfRG can accompany her," he said.
"By questioning Mohan Bhagwat ji ,Rahul Gandhi insulted Indian tradition of Sanyasis/sadhus. Does he mean Shakaracharya/sanyasis have been anti-women? he must apologize"
Sinha also said asked when will Rahul offer Priyanka Vadra, his elder sister, party Presidentship or at least post of General Secretary?.
Earlier in the day, the political arch-rivals tore into each other after the Meghalaya unit of the BJP, in an apparent bid to get even with Rahul Gandhi over his "suit-boot" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claimed the Congress chief wore a jacket worth Rs 63,000 to a concert in Shillong.
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