Ashwini Kumar Choubey
Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey stirred a major controversy on Saturday with his remarks that Congress President Rahul Gandhi suffers from 'some mental disease like schizophrenia' and is no more than a 'naali ka keeda' (gutter worm) before PM Modi.
The minister also targeted RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is currently serving prison term in the fodder scam cases. Launching a scathing attack at Lalu Yadav, the BJP leaders said that he (Lalu Yadav) has been 'cursed by the poor' and is 'paying for his own sins'.
Congress immediately hit back over the remarks and said that the BJP has exposed its "fake respect" for Hindu traditions by insulting Rahul while he is on a pilgrimage to the Kailash Mansarovar shrine. The RJD, too, hit back saying the BJP leadership, which is "busy making an event out of the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee", should have learnt how to conduct itself in public from the late prime minister.
The minister made the objectionable remarks when reporters sought his views in Sasaram on Rahul's pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar and efforts by Opposition parties like the Congress and RJD to form a nation-wide 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).
