The BJP on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks about actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Criticising the Congress leader for his comments on Rai, the BJP alleged that Rahul has a "creepy and dangerous obsession with successful, self-made women."
In his recent public address during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi singled out Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan while taking a swipe at BJP for not inviting anyone from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) at the 'Pran Pratishtha' event of the Ram Temple.
"Did you see the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram Temple? Was there a single OBC face? There was Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, and Narendra Modi," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
"People who constitute 73 per cent of the total population of the country were nowhere seen during the event. The BJP would never want them to assume the reins of the country,” he said.
The BJP also compiled a collage of several speeches by Rahul Gandhi, featuring instances where the 53-year-old leader mentioned Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai. In one of the speeches, Rahul Gandhi remarked, "Television channels only show Aishwarya Rai dancing. They don't highlight anything about the struggles of the poor."
Describing Rahul Gandhi as a fourth-generation dynast with minimal achievements, the BJP asserted that he resorted to derogatory remarks against someone who has brought immense glory to the nation—surpassing the combined achievements of Rahul Gandhi's entire family.
Singer Sona Mohapatra has also taken to social media to express her disapproval of the same. Mohapatra defended Rai against perceived demeaning remarks and criticized the practice of politicians exploiting women for political gain.
"What's with politicians demeaning women in their speeches to get some brownie points in a sexist landscape? Dear Rahul Gandhi, sure someone has demeaned your own mother (Sonia Gandhi), sister (Priyanka Gandhi) similarly in the past, and irrespective you ought to know better? Also, Aishwarya Rai dances beautifully," the singer posted on X.
The Karnataka BJP also slammed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and questioned him over Rahul Gandhi insulting a "fellow Kannadiga".
Aishwarya Rai belongs to the Tuluva community.