New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has used the words ‘strategy’, ‘strategic’ and ‘strategically’ as many as 34 times in his 57-minute media interaction on the coronavirus pandemic Thursday and it has now become a topic of discussion among his political adversaries.
The former Congress president used the three words more than once every minute while offering his suggestions to the Narendra Modi government on how to deal with the coronavirus crisis. This prompted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and its allies to take potshots at the Congress leader on social media.
“How to use the word ‘strategy’ 32 times in single press conference without elaborating what strategy is he proposing? Just asking?” tweeted BJP’s in-charge of foreign affairs department Vijay Chauthaiwale.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, leader of BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, also took to Twitter and posted a clip of Gandhi’s press conference in which he can be seen using the word “strategically” several times.
BJP MP from Delhi Parvesh Sahib Singh also retweeted Sirsa’s tweet and wrote: “Very strategic”.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra took a swipe at Gandhi in a series of tweets.
“I am laughing STRATEGICALLY and rolling on the floor DYNAMICALLY,” he wrote in one of his tweets.
Give out as much money as you can but remember don’t spend too much because you have to spend STRATEGICALLY and money needs to be spend DYNAMICALLY!!
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) April 16, 2020
Also read: Coronavirus has increased political distancing between Rahul Gandhi and Congress old guard
Testing a strategic weapon: Gandhi
During the press conference, Gandhi first used the word ‘strategic’ while commenting on the lockdown.
The Congress leader advocated a “strategic opening” of the lockdown in which certain key areas should be opened first.
“When we come out of the lockdown, the virus is going to start its work again. So it is very important that we have a strategy to come out of the lockdown,” Gandhi said.
Asking the government to take care of the migrant population and feed the needy, Gandhi said: “My advice is give out as much money to the poorest, weakest people as you can. Strategically karna hai, simple tareeke se nahi hoga… strategically soch kar (We have to do it strategically, can’t do it in a simple manner, we have to think strategically)”.
Gandhi also criticised the slow testing rate of India, which, he said, is not enough to fight the pandemic.
“Testing is our main weapon against the virus… It is a strategic weapon, it has to be used like a strategic weapon,” he added.
Cheap reaction: Congress
Reacting to the mock and ridicule for Gandhi, Pranav Jha, AICC secretary in-charge, communications, said such “lampooning is compulsion of the ‘BJP SM-Factory’ which employs thousands to attack and discredit the opponent, and distract people from issues”.
“The entire nation watched Rahul Gandhi yesterday, and even our worst enemies and haters found it outstanding. Many of them from the BJP privately called and said so,” he said.
“Rahul ji spoke live and with faultless passion in front of millions and they are the judge. Perhaps it’s the nervousness in Modi ji’s cheerleaders that their leader can’t do without teleprompter or cut-paste videos, is what made them react as cheaply as they did,” Jha added.
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