'Lacks Courage': Congress Faces Criticism Over Absence Of IUML Flags During Rahul’s Wayanad Roadshow

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday flaked Congress for not showing Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) flags at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Wayanad on Wednesday.

Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi with party leaders Priyanka Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal during a road show before filing his nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, in Wayanad district.

Source : PTI

Flag politics, which made news headline in 2019 lok sabha elections, is back with Congress getting bashed from both left and right over the absence of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) flags at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Wayanad. In Rahul Gandhi's poll rally, both Congress and IUML falgs were reportedly missing.

The IUML is one of the major ally of Congress-led UDF in Kerala. 

2019 IUML Flags Row

In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, a major row erupted after IUML flags in Rahul Gandhi's roadshow were believed to be that of Pakistan. Some social media users at that time claimed that there were Pakistani flags in Congress rally. Just like any political party trying to score some points over its rivals, BJP too used this opportunity to slam Congress by stating that it was difficult to differrentiate if it was India or Pakistan.

However, later it was discovered that the flags with a star and a crescent was that of the IUML.

'Congress Lacks Courage': Kerala CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday flaked Congress for not showing Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) flags at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Wayanad on Wednesday. The chief minister claimed that the grand old party "lack the courage" to publicly display the flags as it is scared of BJP. 

Vijayan further asserted that Congress does know the importance of the votes that IUML will bring in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, however, it fails to acknowledge the value of its flag. 

Addressing a press conference, he stated: "The Congress has fallen to a level where it is afraid of communal forces," news agency PTI reported. 

The CM alleged that the Congress party is forgetting itself in front of the BJP and is scared to showcase its own flags. He further stated that such action "is not expected from a party going to the Lok Sabha as the representatives of the people."

"They (Congress) need clarity of thought and a firm stand as the people of Kerala will need representatives who can fight on national issues and stand with the public. The LDF is able to do both and that is why there is a popular sentiment in its favour," he was quoted as saying by PTI in its report. 

'Congress Is Ashamed': Smriti Irani 

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Smriti Irani remarked that the absence of IUML flags from Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Wayanad indicates either Rahul Gandhi is ashamed of support from the Muslim League or when he visits North India and temples, he won't be able to conceal his association with the party.