Youth Congress Twitter meme mocks Modi

New Delhi: Days after Rahul Gandhi asked the Congress in Gujarat to respect the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister, a Twitter handle linked to the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) posted a crude meme on Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday. Under fire, the Youth Congress apologised and the meme was removed, leaving red faces in the party. The meme, posted on the official Twitter handle of the Youth Congress online magazine ‘Yuva Desh,’ was a photograph of Modi, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May in conversation. In the picture, the PM can be seen asking them if they are aware about the various ‘memes’ that have been put out by the Opposition against him. The blurbs of dialogue show the PM mispronouncing “meme,” being corrected by Trump, and Theresa May dismissing the PM by stating, “You stick to selling tea.” The BJP said that the offensive post (now deleted) exemplifies the Congress’ elitist mindset and that an enraged public will punish it by ensuring the BJP sweeps next month’s election in Gujarat. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, “Madam Sonia Gandhi & Mr Rahul Gandhi do u still believe that only u have a divine right to rule India? Country expects ur response on the tweet of the youth Congress, which is shameful & insulting to poor. U can delete the Tweet but ur thinking towards the poor stands exposed.” The controversial tweet was deleted after the Congress went into damage control. Its Communication Department head Randeep Surjewala said: “INC (Indian National Congress) strongly disapproves and rejects such humour through memes. Differences on policy and opinion aside, Congress culture imbibes respect for PM and all political opponents.” The IYC said the Twitter handle was not official one and was run by volunteers. Coming as it does in the run-up to the Gujarat Assembly elections, the tweet echoes what Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had said during the 2014 Lok Sabha election: “Narendra Modi will never become the Prime Minister of the country. But if he wants to distribute tea here, we will find a place for him.”