Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey stirred a controversy on 1 September when he remarked that Congress president Rahul Gandhi suffers from "some mental disease like schizophrenia" and "is no more than a 'naali ka keeda' (sewer worm) before the prime minister", drawing strong criticism from both the opposition and NDA ally JD(U).
The BJP leader also targeted RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who is serving a jail term in fodder scam cases, saying that he has been "cursed by the poor" and "is paying for his own sins".
Criticising the minister for his remarks, AICC media panelist and senior Congress leader Premchandra Mishra said, “Choubey does not have control over his tongue. Was he speaking under the effect of marijuana?”
Although the BJP distanced itself from Choubey’s remark saying that it was his personal view and not that of the party, a furious Congress said that the BJP had exposed its "fake respect" for Hindu traditions by insulting Gandhi while he is on a pilgrimage to the Kailash Mansarovar shrine.
The RJD too hit back, saying that the BJP leadership, which is "busy making an event out of the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee", should have learnt how to conduct oneself in public from the late prime minister.
The minister made the objectionable remarks when his views were sought by reporters in Sasaram on Gandhi's pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar and efforts by opposition parties like the Congress and RJD to form a nation-wide 'Mahagathbandhan' (Grand Alliance).
(With PTI inputs)
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