25 Apr 2019 | 05:49am IST
BJP takes offence to YouTuber’s remark on Parrikar’s health condition
The saffron party decides not to complain against Dhruv Rathee as it will give him undue publicity
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa unit has taken offence to a controversial statement by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on former Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar’s health condition. The party has however decided not to complain against him as it will give him undue publicity.
Rathee tweeted that the ‘chowkidars’ will have to find an excuse why Parrikar could not try gobar (cow dung) to cure his cancer. This remark was essentially to mock the BJP for choosing Sadhvi Pragya Thakur as its candidate from Bhopal. Thakur made some uncomfortable statements during her election campaign that cow dung and gau-mutra cures cancer and that her curse killed Anti Terrorist Squad (Mumbai) officer Hemant Karkare while facing bullets in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.
The YouTuber’s comment on Parrikar has upset the BJP Goa Unit with the party’s Chief Vinay Tendulkar condemning such an act. “It is a cheap act and very condemnable. We will not file any complaint or issue him a legal notice because this will unnecessarily give him publicity. God will punish him,” Tendulkar informed Herald.
Party’s spokesperson Damu Naik lamented the YouTuber for resorting to cheap publicity. The senior leader has gone to the extent of calling Rathee’s act as stupidity. “He (Rathee) is not leaving even a dead person. This shows he is of an ill nature and stupid mentality. In Hindu mythology, the name Dhruv has a lot of respect but this man has turned out to be a rotten coconut. Rathee should not resort to cheap publicity,” he commented.
Herald also reached out to few other BJP leaders, most of whom reacted asking, “Who is Dhruv Rathee?” “Who is he? This man wants to gain publicity out of a popular leader. Such a cheap act by the so called You Tuber,” said a senior office bearer refusing to be named.
Rathee’s tweet read, “I feel bad for Chowkidars of Modi. -First they had to defend the fact that Bomb Blast accused is BJP candidate. - Now they have to justify that eating Gobar does cure Cancer. - Then they’ll have to find an excuse why Parrikarji could not try this Gobar recipe to cure his cancer.” The post has been retweeted over 5,000 times and liked by almost 19,000 people. Rathee, in December 2016, had taken on Parrikar for his alleged rude behaviour towards the people while the latter was serving as the union defence minister. On his Facebook post, Rathee had said, “This is our Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, is this behaviour towards common men and women acceptable by netas? Will there be any action?” The 2.20 minute long video posted along with the caption showed that a group of people were protesting against Parrikar outside the CM’s official residence at Altinho and Parrikar, on stepping out of the bungalow demanded to know who was shouting ‘murdabad’ slogans.
Earlier this month, Parrikar’s elder son Utpal had written to NCP president Sharad Pawar to not speak lies about his father for political gains. Pawar had issued a statement that Rafale deal was not acceptable to Parrikar and hence he resigned as the Defence Minister. Utpal then sent a letter to Pawar expressing shock over the lie.
