New Delhi: Accusing Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of insulting the people of Uttar Pradesh with her “UP-type” remark, the Congress has demanded an apology from her.
Asserting that there was no need to insult Uttar Pradesh in this manner, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the people of the state are proud to be “UP-type”.
Using the hashtag “UP Mera Abhiman (UP my pride)”, she tweeted in Hindi: “You did not put anything for UP in the bag of Budget...but what was the need to insult people of UP in this manner? Understand, the people of UP are proud to be 'UP-type'. We are proud of the language, dialect, culture and history of UP.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister must apologise to the people of Uttar Pradesh.
“Nirmala Sitharaman has insulted the 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh and made fun of them with her 'typical UP-type' comment. This is a big insult to the 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh,” Surjewala told reporters, PTI reported.
“Modi ji and Nirmala Sitharaman should immediately apologise to the people of Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
The controversy arose after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi earlier on Tuesday alleged that the Centre had delivered a “zero-sum budget”, which has nothing for the middle class, farmers and the poor.
“M0di G0vernment’s Zer0 Sum Budget! Nothing for - Salaried class - Middle class - The poor & deprived – Youth – Farmers – MSMEs,” he tweeted.
Gandhi’s remarks drew ire from the ruling party members with Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary leading the charge.
Chaudhary, who is also an MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj Lok Sabha constituency, said Gandhi probably did not understand the “futuristic” budget.
Backing the Minister of State for Finance’s remarks, Sitharaman said: “I think he (Chaudhary) has given that typical UP-type of an answer which is good enough for an MP who ran away from UP.”
“I wish as the leader of the oldest political party, Rahul Gandhi should understand what is being said,” she added.
Continuing her diatribe, Sitharaman said that the Congress leader should first do something in the states ruled by the grand old party before commenting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.