After the Aam Aadmi Party’s Gujarat president Gopal Italia was allegedly caught on camera making fun of the prime minister’s mother and threatening to sue the state for “abusing” her, the BJP escalated its criticism of the party on Friday.
On Thursday, an old video of Mr. Italia surfaced in which he is allegedly heard making fun of PM Modi’s mother Hiraba Modi, who is 100 years old. Mr. Italia is also heard allegedly using a pejorative term for Prime Minister Modi, which has prompted stern rebukes from BJP leaders.
“You are misguided if you believe that insulting the mother of the prime minister will help you become more popular politically in Gujarat. And Gujarat and Gujaratis will make you pay for that error politically in the upcoming elections “Speaking to reporters on Friday, Union Minister Smriti Irani attacked AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. She asserted that Mr. Italia’s remarks were made on Arvind Kejriwal’s orders, noting that the Gujarat-based AAP leader has made several remarks that have “insulted” the Hindu community and women who visit temples.
If AAP leaders want to humiliate a 100-year-old grandmother who has nothing to do with politics, Ms. Irani said it is “totally inexcusable.”
The BJP leader claimed that the only crime committed by the woman was giving birth to Narendra Modi, who is undermining Kejriwal’s political plans.
Irani claimed that Mr. Italia’s assertion that the BJP is pursuing him because he is a member of the Patidar community demonstrated the AAP’s willingness to utilise gender and community cards for political gain.
“It is hardly shocking that Arvind Kejriwal may reach new lows. They are unaware of the respect Gujaratis and Gujratis have for women, particularly mothers, in our community “She asserted that the approaching state assembly elections will result in the political annihilation of the local party.
According to Ms. Irani, the AAP leadership in the state has been using a variety of statements—including “slurs against Hindu women and religious institutions”—to get political attention.
Mr. Italia is allegedly heard in another video telling ladies not to visit temples because they are “dens of exploitation of women.”
He assaulted PM Modi’s mother “maliciously and in a nasty manner” with Mr. Kejriwal’s “blessings,” Ms. Irani claimed.
In response to his alleged comments against PM Modi, Mr. Italia appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday in New Delhi, where he was detained by the Delhi Police for more than 2.5 hours. AAP members were protesting outside the NCW’s office as he did so.
After appearing before NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma, Mr. Italia alleged that she “threatened and treated indecently” him because “he is a Patidar and his community members have come out in favour of the Kejriwal-led party” ahead of the elections.
Mr. Kejriwal claimed that the Patel population in Gujarat had become extremely angry as a result of his detention.
