Sonia Gandhi’s speech at the Congress plenary session has been getting attention because of her alleged use of the word ‘balatkar’.
New Delhi: Contrary to reports, Sonia Gandhi did not say that Indira Gandhi’s politics “raped” India.
A word from her speech at the 84th plenary session of the All India Congress Committee is being misheard as “balatkar” (rape) and is being shared widely. Gandhi said “Indira ji ki shaandaar jeet ne desh ki raajneeti ko palat kar rakh diya” — that Indira Gandhi’s win turned the country’s politics around.
The context of her comment on her mother-in-law’s politics was how Indira Gandhi’s return to the Lok Sabha in a 1978 by-election from Chikmagalur in Karnataka signalled the return of a stronger Congress party.
However, her pronunciation of the words “palat kar” were misheard as “balatkar”, sparking speculation on social media platforms.
She says "balaatkaar kar diya", NOT "balaatkaar ho gaya"–when she meant "badal kar rakh diya" . This is what happens when you read Hindi in Roman/Italian script!??? https://t.co/JsBPlivEvX
— MadhuPurnima Kishwar (@madhukishwar) March 17, 2018
Madhu Kishwar retweeted a video of the moment, which went viral with over 1,700 retweets and 2,000 likes.
Meanwhile in #CongressPlenary
Sonia Gandhi says –
Indira ji ki shaandaar jeet se desh ki rajniti kaa balatkar ho gaya!!!! ?? pic.twitter.com/QROAlwN10g— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) March 17, 2018
Tajinder Bagga, spokesperson for the Delhi BJP, tweeted that he “appreciates Shrimati Sonia Gandhi Ji for accepting the truth”.
I appreciate Shrimati Sonia Gandhi ji for accepting the truth pic.twitter.com/j1lIRRp7OH
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) March 17, 2018
The alleged use of the word “balatkar” was immediately linked to the popular film 3 Idiots. The film features a scene in which a character who isn’t fluent in Hindi simply memorises a speech word-to-word and delivers it, not realising that the work “chamatkar” (miracle) has been replaced with the word “balatkar”, ultimately making a fool of himself.
The UPA chairperson’s full speech was met with a standing ovation at the plenary session Saturday. She called upon the party to work with her son and new party president, Rahul Gandhi, so that the Congress can begin a “new chapter” during these “challenging times”.
She also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and called his government “arrogant” and prone to “dramebaazi” (theatrics).
Likening the current political climate to that of Indira Gandhi’s time in the 1970s, she said that the Congress party can still turn things around and return to power.
The full speech can be heard here:
This article is in collaboration with SM Hoaxslayer.