Rahul Gandhi(L) and Smriti Irani.
Credit: PTI File Photos
New Delhi: Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked party leaders and workers to "refrain from using derogatory language and being nasty" towards former BJP Smriti Irani, saying humiliating and insulting people is a sign of weakness and not strength.
In a post on 'X', Rahul said, "winning and losing happen in life. I urge everyone to refrain from using derogatory language and being nasty towards Smriti Irani or any other leader for that matter."
"Humiliating and insulting people is a sign of weakness, not strength," he added.
Smriti had lost to Congress' Kishori Lal Sharma in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Amethi, which she had won in 2019 defeating Rahul.
While Rahul did not mention the exact reason for his post mentioning Smriti, some supporters had made adverse comments against the former union minister on social media.
However, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya alleged Rahul’s post was the “most disingenuous message, ever”.
“After unleashing Congress leaders, like a pack of wolves, on the woman who defeated him in Amethi and smashed his arrogance to smithereens, this is rich. All this gibberish doesn’t take away from the fact that Smriti Irani forced ‘Balak Buddhi’ to abandon Amethi,” Malviya said on ‘X’.
"Humility, respect, empathy and dignity. These are the values we must cherish. Wish more would learn from Rahul Gandhi," senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, quoting Rahul's post.