On Wednesday, the BJP targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition MPs after reports emerged that they had received mangoes from the Pakistan High Commission. The BJP taunted Gandhi, accusing him of preferring mangoes from Pakistan over those from Uttar Pradesh (UP).
The mangoes were sent to several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, Samajwadi Party MPs Mohibbullah Nadvi, Zia Ur Rehman Barg, Iqra Hasan from Rampur, Sambhal and Kairana and Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari, media reports said.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused Gandhi of having “napak” (unholy) relations with Pakistan. Singh remarked, “Some time ago, Rahul Gandhi said he did not like mangoes from Uttar Pradesh. The Pakistani embassy has now sent mangoes to Rahul Gandhi. He should say what else he likes. Rahul Gandhi batayen kya Modi ko hatane ka koi naya mangne gaye hain Pakistan se. Pakistan se inke napak rishte hain,” meaning that Gandhi should explain whether he is looking for new ways to remove Modi from office, accusing him of having unholy relations with Pakistan.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur also criticised the opposition leaders, saying: “They get mangoes from where their hearts lie… He (Rahul) does not like the mangoes from Uttar Pradesh, but he seems to be delighted with the mangoes from Pakistan.”
BJP’s Amit Malviya listed the names of seven opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor, who had received cartons of mangoes. He said that “some people can also be identified by the person who sends them the mangoes.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently sent good quality mangoes to Prime Minister Modi, BJP politicians and some chief ministers, but not to non-BJP chief ministers. “Politicians from other parties do not like Uttar Pradesh mangoes,” commented a senior official.
Mangoes have traditionally been used as a diplomatic tool. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent mangoes to Prime Minister Modi almost every year since he assumed office, and also to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Historical records of the Ministry of External Affairs show that India used this form of diplomacy with China in the 1950s before the Indo-China War.
Image source: PTI
