Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on 9 June called the leader of the Indian independence movement Mahatma Gandhi a “bahut chatur baniya”, after which he got tremendously trolled on Twitter.
Shah, who was on three-day visit to Chhattisgarh, made a controversial comment during the interaction with “eminent person” of the state.
BJP president while lashing out at Congress said that party is not based on the principles and it was merely an instrument of gaining independence.
Meanwhile, National Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said, "Dear @AmitShah Ji,Reducing India's greatest freedom fighters to an SPV, a business model, is repugnant, saddening. India deserves an apology."
"#MahatmaGandhi went to jail for India's freedom struggle. Amit Shah was behind bars for fake encounters. No further comment is necessary," Jha tweeted.
#MahatmaGandhi went to jail for India's freedom struggle. Amit Shah was behind bars for fake encounters. No further comment is necessary.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) June 10, 2017
“Congress kisi ek vichaar dhaara ke adhaar par, kisi ek siddhant ke adhaar par bani hui party hi nahi hai, woh azadi prapt karne ka ek special purpose vehicle hai, azadi prapt karne ka ek saadhan tha. Aur isi liye Mahatma Gandhi ne durandesi ke saath, bahut chatur baniya tha woh, usko maloom tha aage kya hone waala hai, usne azadi ke baad turant kaha tha, Congress ko bikher dena chahiye. Mahatma Gandhi ne nahi kiya, lekin ab kuch log usko bikherne ka kaam samapt kar rahe hain. (The Congress is not a party based on one ideology or one principle, it is a special purpose vehicle to gain independence…this is why Mahatma Gandhi with foresight, he was a very clever baniya, he knew what was going to happen, he said immediately after independence that the Congress should be dissolved,” the Indian Express quoted him as saying.
“They (the Congress) think someone will say this, someone will say that. But we have no confusion. We are clear. If someone will raise anti-national slogans, he will be called a traitor,” he said.
Addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Amit Shah has insulted Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom movement and the sacrifice of freedom fighters by his statement."
Here is how people reacted on Shah's remarks:
Amit Shah calls Mahatma Gandhi #hindutwa ideology h bjp ki#sikh,budhist,jains,adivasi aur muslims# chatur baniye ne azadi dilai amit shah
— sk azhar (@skazhar001) June 10, 2017
By calling Father of the nation 'Chatur Baniya' @AmitShah has proved, Money & Power doesn't guarantee 'class'. A Cheap person remains cheap.
— Sadhavi Khosla (@sadhavi) June 10, 2017
#NautankiShavRaj
— Radha Charan Das (@radhacharandas) June 10, 2017
When your party cannot respect the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, can we expect you to respect the farmers of India?
Mahatma Gandhi taking dig at BJP President Amit Shah. pic.twitter.com/b5F6LC4jag
— Rahul Gandhi (@iDesiDevil) June 10, 2017
By calling #MahatmaGandhi a #ShrewdBaniya #AmitShah has shown his communal mindset and hurt the national sentiments.We demand apology pic.twitter.com/JNrVfn8dV0
— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) June 10, 2017
BJP is proving time n agn hw deep dey cn jump in a pit of filth..#MahatmaGandhi fought 4 dis country n u BJP push ppl 2 fight amng demselves
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) June 10, 2017