Reacting to Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's description of Rahul Gandhi as “Amul baby,” the Congress on Monday said such comments were an insult to the youth of India.
“People who are about to become history in a few days are insulting the youth of the nation through such comments,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told journalists here.
“The communities of youth in every nook and corner of the country want a change of direction and energy and no other political party has a youth symbol comparable to Rahul Gandhi. This is an insult to that resurgence, that energy and that momentum. Such comments betray the desperation and realisation of this truth by such persons.”
Asked whether the Congress endorsed Mr. Gandhi's comments on the Chief Minister's age, Mr. Singhvi said Mr. Gandhi was talking about “anachronistic policies.”
“Rahul Gandhi never made a personal remark. Age or person was not an issue. He was talking about anachronistic policies. The impatience of the youth in India finds expression in comments of such youth icons,” he said.
Mr. Singhvi was asked how Mr. Gandhi could comment on Mr. Achuthanandan's age when the Congress was in alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, which projected the 87-year-old M. Karunanidhi as its Chief Ministerial candidate.