Meerut’s Congress district president, Vinay Pradhan, was sacked from the party for allegedly addressing Rahul Gandhi as “Pappu” on a party’s local WhatsApp group.
An image shared on social medai shows Pradhan repeatedly referring to party’s vice-resident as “Pappu”, in a message meant to laud his recent attempt to visit Mandsaur following the death of protesting farmers, The Times of India reported.
“Rahul Gandhi is also known as Pappu by a section of people in this country. People of this country are witness to the fact that Pappu has never taken to a lavish lifestyle,” the WhatsApp message reads.
“Pappu never took part in the parties thrown by industrialists like Adani and Ambani because Pappu knew that these people would only exploit the common people’s resources. Pappu could have easily become the Prime Minister of this country but he did not,” the message further reads.
However, denying the allegations, the leader told The Times of India:
This is an effort by some people in the party to malign me. I have not sent any such message. The screenshots being circulated have been photoshopped. I respect Rahul Gandhiji and would never use such language for him.Vinay Pradhan
ANI reported that senior party leaders and Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Raj Babbar did not appreciate such behaviour.
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