After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's "panauti" (bad omen) jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called Modi a "paapi" (sinner) and accused that the Indian cricket team players were "made to were saffron players" when Modi went to the dressing room after the team's defeat in the Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad on November 19. Both the politicians seemingly attributed the Indian cricket team's loss to Modi's presence at the Narendra Modi Stadium during the final.
"Team India would have won had the finals happened in Kolkata (at Eden Gardens) or at Wankhede (in Mumbai). Our players were made to wear gerua (saffron). The players resisted, so India team did not have to wear saffron jersey during matches," Banerjee said during her address to Trinamool Congress workers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata. "They were making our players wear saffron jerseys. Our players opposed changing their blue jerseys, so they added a touch of saffron to the blue jersey. Indian cricketers played very well that they won all the matches but in the last match they (PM Modi and Amit Shah) went to watch," Banerjee said.
The TMC supremo's remark came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dubbed Moid as a "panauti" at a political rally in Rajasthan's Jalore, attributing India's loss in the 2023 World Cup final against Australia last Sunday to his presence. "Ache bhale hamare ladke waha pe World Cup jeet jaate, par panauti harwa diya (our boys were almost winning the World Cup, but the 'bad omen' made them lose)," Rahul Gandhi said.
EC issues show-cause notice to Rahul Gandhi
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Meanwhile, the Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to Rahul Gandhi over the "panauti" and "pickpocket" remarks. "It is alleged that comparing a Prime Minister to a "Jaibkatra" (pickpocket) and using the word "Pannauti" is unbecoming of a very senior leader of National Political Party. Further, the allegation of grant of waivers of Rs 14,00,000 crones for the past nine years, is asserted by the BJP, as not borne out on facts. Furthermore, they are allegedly in violation of Section 123 (4) of the R. P. Act, Section 171G, 504, 505 (2), and 499 of IPC and provisions of Model Code of Conduct," the notice said.
