Bharatiya Janata Party called Rahul Gandhi “chhota popat” after he swiped at BJP’s ‘ek hain toh safe hain’ slogan

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday responded sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘ek hain toh safe hain’ slogan, calling the Congress leader “chhota popat” (small parrot). The BJP further claimed that the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had coined the term for Gandhi.

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Speaking at a press conference, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra expressed, “Today, I say this from this platform, in Rahul Gandhi’s own language, ‘Chhota popat ne kiya hei Congress ko chaupat’ (he has ruined Congress). His name is Rahul Gandhi.”

Patra went on to reference an interview with Bal Thackeray where he had dubbed Rahul Gandhi as “chhota popat” and declared, “From today onwards, Rahul Gandhi’s name will be ‘chhota popat’. It will be on everyone’s lips in Maharashtra.”

Rahul Gandhi’s Criticism of BJP’s Slogan

Rahul Gandhi had earlier mocked the BJP’s slogan, asserting that it referred to the alliance between PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. During a press conference in Ranchi, he said, “I will explain the real meaning of BJP’s slogan – ‘ek hai to safe hai’. It means if Modi, Shah, and Ambani are united, they are ‘safe’.”

Gandhi also criticized PM Modi for not visiting Manipur, where violence has persisted for over a year. “Manipur has been burning for the last one-and-a-half years, but PM Modi has not visited even once. I went there, saw the situation, and urged the government to control the violence. The Union Home Minister should have done his job, but he is not showing interest. Some vested interests are at play,” Gandhi alleged.

BJP’s Response to Kharge’s Remarks

The BJP also took aim at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s controversial analogy during an election rally, where he likened the BJP and RSS to a “poisonous snake” that should be killed. Patra criticized Kharge for displaying an “Emergency mentality,” accusing him of inciting violence by making such remarks.

The second phase of voting for the Jharkhand and Maharashtra elections will take place on November 20, with results to be announced on November 23.