Author: OpIndia Staff
Publication: Opindia.com
Date: February 18, 2017
URL: http://www.opindia.com/2017/02/priyanka-gandhi-follows-in-rahuls-footsteps-gets-massively-trolled-on-social-media/
By now, people await speeches of Rahul Gandhi with more excitement than the next episode of their favourite comedy show. It has become a pass-time for random, ordinary Indians to easily mock Rahul Gandhi for his hilarious statements and antics.
But for long, it was thought (or projected by media) that Rahul’s reclusive sister Priyanka Gandhi was the smarter of the two. She was projected as the hope for the sinking ship that is Congress. Even Congress workers had begun putting up posters in her support asking Priyanka to take the plunge and join politics full-time. Alas, Priyanka has spoken, and has proved the adage: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
At a rally in Rae Bareli, Congress launched Priyanka Gandhi to attack BJP and PM Modi, but alas, her utterances were once again the butt of derision and jokes on social media. First, Priyanka tried to attack Modi by asking whether Uttar Pradesh needed “adopted sons”. This was perhaps an attempt to bring the “bahari” angle, which worked well in Bihar. But social media users were quick to point out that at least Priyanka had no moral grounds to state this.
Reputed columnist Ashok Malik had this to say:
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Ashok Malik @MalikAshok
The Nehrus came from Kashmir to UP. Feroze Gandhi came from Gujarat to UP. Sonia came from Italy to UP. But this Modi fellow is an outsider https://twitter.com/aninewsup/status/832560620952289281 …
8:06 PM - 17 Feb 2017
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Others chose to dig deeper:
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Karthick Sridharan @Karthick2668
Modi is outsider to Uttar Pradesh, says Priyanka..hehe and Italian born Sonia? she's always an outsider for all over India @INCIndia
8:55 AM - 18 Feb 2017
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Anupam Shukla @imshuklajee
As per Priyanka Gandhi, Modi (PM of country) is outsider for UP and she wants an Italian to be considered insider, waaah. #कारनामे_बोलते_है
3:18 PM - 18 Feb 2017
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Next, Priyanka Gandhi, in an attempt to woo women voters, asked why the Prime Minister refers to women as somebody’s sister, daughter, wife or mother. She further asked Modi to stop relating women like her to any of their relations. Priyanka may not have realised the obvious irony in her statement but social media users were ready to educate her:
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Liberal Of New Delhi @LiberalsOfDelhi
Proud of Priyanka Gandhi for saying women don't need husband or father's name. All members of Gandhi-Nehru family have never used it.
9:48 PM - 17 Feb 2017
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Rupa Subramanya @rupasubramanya
The irony is truly howling from this dynasty sychophant.We're only talking about Priyanka cos she's daughter of a political dynasty. #Dummy
9:00 AM - 18 Feb 2017 · Mumbai, India
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Sir Ravindra Jadeja @SirJadeja
"Women Should Not Be Known By Father's Name",Says Priyanka Gandhi, Who Prefers To Keep "Gandhi" Surname Of Her Father For Political Benefits pic.twitter.com/GiOBfuDKl3
12:00 PM - 18 Feb 2017
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Some asked why was Priyanka suddenly distancing herself from her relations:
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चार लोग @WoCharLog
Ashamed of Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi & Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi refused to be identified as their daughter, sister & wife resp. ?
9:13 PM - 17 Feb 2017
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Others reminded her of the time she herself bandied about her illustrious surname:
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JNS 🇮🇳 @Sootradhar
Never forget Priyanka Gandhi is Rahul Gandhi's sister
5:29 PM - 18 Feb 2017
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But Mainstream Media was trying its best to cover up for Priyanka. The Indian Express had this fawning piece for Priyanka, calling her a “feminist icon” while down-rating the feminist credentials of women leaders like Indira Gandhi, J Jayalalithaa, Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee. Once again social media users called out this bluff.
Columnist Rupa Subramanya had this to say:
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Rupa Subramanya @rupasubramanya
Mayawati,Amma "can't be considered feminist icons" argues IE sub-ed @radhika_iy who refers to Priyanka as Gandhi & not Vadra. #DynastReboot3 https://twitter.com/indianexpress/status/832632275284004866 …
11:02 PM - 17 Feb 2017 · Mumbai, India
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Rupa Subramanya @rupasubramanya
Priyanka Vadra doesn't have a single accomplishment to her name other than the family she belongs to unlike Mayawati or Mamata. https://twitter.com/peter_vas/status/832790865424818176 …
8:50 AM - 18 Feb 2017 · Mumbai, India
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Others too echoed the same view:
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The Masakadzas @Nesenag
Makes sense, Priyanka Gandhi is a thoroughly self made woman who has fought her way through patriarchy all her life, unlike Mayawati, Amma https://twitter.com/indianexpress/status/832632275284004866 …
9:03 AM - 18 Feb 2017
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In the end, this tweet perhaps summed up Priyanka’s performance. Better luck next time!
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WINGS OF FIRE @shenoy70
Priyanka Vadra dressed like Indira, styled hair like Indira,had traces of Grey streaks like Indira, But Alas spoke like Pappu's sister. 👎
9:44 PM - 17 Feb 2017
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