On Congress leader's 'latka-jhatka' comment, Smriti Irani attacks Rahul Gandhi, dares him to run from Amethi in 2024

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Ajay Rai courted controversy on Monday after he took a jibe at union minister Smriti Irani, saying she only comes to her constituency Amethi to show "latkas" and "jhatkas", an unflattering reference to dance moves. Irani in turn dared Rahul Gandhi to run from Amethi in 2024, and also advised him and Sonia Gandhi to get their "mysoginistic goons a new speechwriter".
During a press interaction, Rai said: "Most of the factories in Amethi are on the verge of closure. Half of the factories in Jagdishpur industrial area are lying shut. Smriti Irani only comes, shows 'latka-jhatka', and leaves."
"Amethi has been a Gandhi bastion. We will ask the Gandhis to fight and again win from here in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," added Rai, a regional chief of the party.

Aren't you afraid?: Irani to Rahul
Reacting to the comment, Irani dared Rahul Gandhi to clarify whether he will run from Amethi.
"Heard you (Rahul Gandhi) have announced to contest from Amethi in 2024 in an indecent manner from one of your provincial leaders. So can I take it for sure that you will contest from Amethi? Will you not run to the second seat? Aren't you afraid??? PS: You & Mummy ji need to get your mysoginistic goons a new speechwriter," she tweeted.
BJP attacks "shameful" comments
The BJP also took exception to the "shameful" comments by Rai. "Such a remark from a leader of the party which gave the first woman prime minister to the nation, is definitely shameful," said UP BJP spokesperson Anand Dubey while alleging that the language used by the Congress has always been "anti-women".
Dubey said prominent Congress leaders had been winning Lok Sabha elections from Amethi and Rae Bareli, but these districts "lagged behind in almost every parameter". "After the Narendra Modi-led BJP government came to power in the Centre, and the Yogi Adityanath-led government came to power in Uttar Pradesh, development is taking place in these districts. The people of Amethi had already rejected Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha election," Dubey said.
(With inputs from agencies)