Rahul Gandhi on 'pappu' tag: Crores pumped in by BJP to distort my image but truth comes out

At the last leg of the Bharat Jodi Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said the BJP and the RSS systemically used the ‘Pappu’ tag to demean him

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference at Jhajjar Kotli in Jammu district | Photo Credit: -

Thousands of crores of rupees have been pumped in by the BJP and the RSS systematically to distort my image but the truth always comes out, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on January 24 on him being derisively referred to as 'pappu' on social media.

The Congress will teach the BJP that truth works in this country and not money, power and arrogance, Mr. Gandhi said as his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' continues in its final leg.

He was speaking to reporters in Jammu before starting his journey towards the Valley.

"Thousands of crores have been spent to distort my image. This was done systematically by the BJP and its leaders. Thousands of crores can't hide the truth and you have witnessed it. The truth always comes out," the 52-year-old said when asked if the Congress was spending crores of rupees to counter his 'pappu' image.

He alleged the RSS and the BJP leaders think that anything can be achieved with money and power.

"You can demean anyone, distort anyone's image, buy any government, anything can be done with money. But that would not be the truth. Truth always pushes aside money and power and this stark reality is becoming evident to the BJP leaders slowly," he said.

Armed forces need not show proof: Rahul on Digvijaya’s remarks 

Mr. Gandhi also said he and the party do not agree with Digvijaya Singh’s comments on surgical strikes and that the armed forces do not need to give any proof. Singh on January 23 had questioned the surgical strikes and accused the government of peddling lies.

#WATCH | Jammu: "We have answered all the questions. You go and ask questions to the Prime Minister," said Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge when asked about Digvijaya Singh's remark on the surgical strike pic.twitter.com/A12PRYzZ6f

— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2023

“I don’t agree with the statement of Digvijaya Singh. It is crystal clear that we disagree with it. It is the official position of the Congress,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters. “They (armed forces) need not provide any proof,” he said.

Addressing a public meeting during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Singh said on Monday, “They (the BJP government) talk of surgical strikes. They claim to have killed so many people but no proof is given. They are ruling by peddling a bundle of lies.”

Published - January 24, 2023 03:55 pm IST