Rahul Gandhi Remark on ‘Pliant Maharajas'

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition ( LoP) in Lok Sabha has courted a fresh controversy after his op-ed on monopolies and free market subject. He has come under fire from former royals for writing ‘plant maharajas 'after which former royals including Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rajasthan Deputy CM Diya Kumari and other leaders slammed him for making remarks on their “ancestors”

Gandhi had written the op-ed which was published across all major dailies on rise of alleged monopolies and the way he equated the relations between the East India Company and the royals, sparks were raised.

But this is not the first controversy which Gandhi scion has courted. If it can be said that he is controversy's favorite child, then it won't be wrong in totality.

Rahul Gandhi Biggest Controversies

Took swipes at the PM in the USA

Buoyed by the increase in the number of seats in LS after 2024 election & performance of INDI Alliance, Gandhi targeted PM while on a visit to the USA in September. While addressing the diaspora in Virginia, Gandhi said that the ‘fear’ of PM Modi has vanished after the results of Lok Sabha elections. Back home his statement received flak from BJP for taking swipe at the PM on foreign land.

Comments on Modi Surname

He found himself embroiled in the middle of legal trouble after he made comments in 2019, on the surname of PM Modi. After Gandhi made the comments in 2019 during an election rally, a BJP MLA from Gujarat Purnesh Modi dragged Rahul Gandhi to court. The matter carried on for almost 4 years and in 2023 a Surat court convicted him and sentenced him to 2 years jail. As soon as the sentence came, shortly after, Wayanad MP was disqualified from LS membership and his bungalow at Tuglaq Road was also taken away.

Gandhi, however, fought back and after some months, he was able to get a breather from the court of law and his LS membership got restored. But the controversy rocked the boat both for Gandhi as well as Congress party.

Chowkidar Chor hai

In the run up to the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, Gandhi once again stoked controversy after he gave the slogan of ‘Chowkidaar Chor hai' which aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi with reference to Rafale deal from France.

Gandhi left no stone unturned to make it a political issue and regularly held media briefings on this subject. In every public meeting, Rahul Gandhi used to ask his supporters to raise this slogan 'Chowkidaar Chor hai'. BJP too started the campaign “mai bhi chowkidaar”which became a hit. Meanwhile BJP had knocked on the doors of the court against Gandhi's controversial statement.

Gandhi had to retract his stance and had to express regret in the court for this controversial statement terming it was given in the heat of elections.

His famous ‘hug ‘& wink

Gandhi startled PM Modi in Lok Sabha in 2018 when he suddenly came up to him and hugged him. Modi that time was facing a no confidence motion and Rahul Gandhi had made a fiery speech. However, towards the end, he walked to the treasury benches and reached the first bench were Modi was seated. He hugged him to the surprise of everyone. But then, he did something unexpected. After returning to his seat, he winked towards his party colleagues & this hug and wink immediately became a center of controversy.

Publicly opposed the ordinance brought by his own government

In 2013 during UPA-II era, Rahul Gandhi strongly opposed the ordinance that proposed not to disqualify convicted law makers. The PM was travelling out of India during that time and Gandhi’s vehement opposition to the ordinance was considered as a major embarrassment for then PM Dr Manmohan Singh & the UPA government.

It’s been more than 10 years but the ‘ghost’ of dumping this ordinance still haunts the Congress party and whenever BJP and others want to attack Rahul Gandhi, they bring back the memories of his public rejection of this ordinance.