Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra stooped to a new low on Monday when he attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi by questioning the latter’s ‘gotra’.
The comment came soon after Gandhi visited the Mahakaleshwar temple at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, during his 2-day tour of the poll-bound state.
Patra had said in a press conference, “Rahul Gandhi wears a janeu (sacred thread). We want to ask him – he is going to Ujjain – what kind of ‘Janeu Dhari‘ are you? What is your gotra?”
Patra’s comment did not go down well with Twitter users, who were quick to remind Patra about the real issues in the country. Some users also discussed how Patra’s remark reflected the extremely regressive and brahmanical thinking of the RSS-BJP establishment.
I’d rather he was asked what his agenda is, what his plan for job creation is, what his plan for agriculture is, what his plan to combat inflation is but if all that matters is what his Gotra is then God help us. https://t.co/zpO1wcGsZh
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 29, 2018
This is all you are capable of. Gotra, Gaumutra, Gobar.
Seriously ashamed that we have allowed the country to go into the hands of these illiterate backward ignorant regressive duffers and goons. https://t.co/1XnXbdi80I
— Irreverent Lawyer (@rebelawyer) October 29, 2018
Just look at BJP’s thinking. That’s all they want to ask Rahul Gandhi—what kind of a sacred thread he is wearing and what his gotra is. Have you noticed the words ‘vikas’ and ‘achhe din’ are now nearly absent in the vocabulary of BJP wallahs? Is this what the future holds for us? https://t.co/WPSTuy7YCn
— Manimugdha Sharma (@quizzicalguy) October 29, 2018
I wish Bjp had the deets of the gotra of “Vikas” & “good governance” might help India https://t.co/HfyXKoUs8e
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) October 29, 2018
We told you it would be you next!
Nagpur has just one agenda – Manusmriti based constitution. #VoteThemOUT before they take away your vote.
BJP is already checking Gotra!! https://t.co/tQDvpgDT9Y
— Arvind Jha (@jalajboy) October 29, 2018
How casteist is BJPs version of Hinduism, does Spokesperson Patra speak for the party on this. https://t.co/3R4LYlsSit
— Karuna Nundy (@karunanundy) October 29, 2018
BJP is actually telling Cong that they are the the only Pure Gotra Brahmins (evident from the Brahmin-only RSS that controls them) https://t.co/omeo4PGQzB
— Ravi Ratan (@scribe_it) October 29, 2018
The world is worried about growth rates, some of us here are worried about ‘gotra’ dates! Yeh hai aaj kee rajneeti! https://t.co/x4N3hlXjQQ
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) October 29, 2018
Why is the devillishly cherubic BJP spokie so keen to know someone’s gotra? Is that the next sub-categorisation he’d like Aadhaar to identify and make further divisions among Indians? Indians should simply tell him: “I have My Gotra, you have Gau Mutra.”
— Salil Tripathi (@saliltripathi) October 29, 2018
In Hinduism such questions about family and gotra of a person are asked in matrimonial matters. Is that the case @sambitswaraj?
Rishta bhijwa rahe ho kya?
.. https://t.co/C5rliZg1EG— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) October 29, 2018
I remember, in 2014 the younger voters were feeling that they would be talking new technology, economy boom and all if Modi comes to power.
What is situation now?
BJP discussing riots and gotra and mandir and gau mata.I hope, ‘young India’ has realised the ‘agenda’. https://t.co/LoPQEeWxPz
— amey tirodkar (@ameytirodkar) October 29, 2018
Rahul asks about #RafaleDeal
BJP asks : What’s your #GotraDevelopment/Ache Din/Make in India all gone for a toss
Rahul has started rattling BJP rank & file and Leadership alike.
Game over BJP. The tone for 2019 is set. pic.twitter.com/NfEw7VWrsg
— Suby #ReleaseSanjivBhatt (@Subytweets) October 29, 2018
Reminds me of story of Muslim told to sit in a ritual Brahmin feeding, by his Brahmin friend who told him to pass off as a Gaur Brahmin. He passed off while eating. At Dakshina time, when asked for his gotra, he expostulated, ‘ya Allah, Gaur mein bhi aur’. How much will u divide? https://t.co/rqNks4Rjbb
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) October 29, 2018