Banners with Gandhi family photos torn, videos go viral

Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 22

Advertisement

The one-upmanship in the Congress was at display as a poster war raged and some youths tore banners bearing the pictures of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and former minister GS Bali on the launch of Covid health kits.

Videos of some people tearing posters bearing Bali’s picture late last night went viral on social media today.

‘Insult to Raja Sahib’, youths heard saying

• Videos of some people tearing posters related to the launch of Covid health kits, bearing pictures of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and former state minister GS Bali, went viral on social media on Saturday
• The youths can be heard saying that the ‘insult to Raja Sahib’ will not be tolerated
• Party sources said it appeared that a faction of the Congress seems to be perturbed at Bali being made the in-charge of the committee constituted to help Covid patients

The youths can be heard saying that the insult to “Raja Sahib” will not be tolerated while they tore banners placed atop Rajiv Bhawan, state Congress office, and near the local bus stand near the Panchayat Bhawan here. The youths probably were peeved at Virbhadra Singh’s picture missing from the banners.

What is interesting that they tore huge banners bearing the photographs of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia, Rahul Gandhi, AICC in-charge of Himachal Rajeev Shukla, state Congress president Kuldeep Rathore, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Mukesh Agnihotri and Bali.

The videos caused major embarrassment to the Congress, as people commented on social media that the party was ridden with bickering and infighting. The Congress had launched its health kits for Covid patients with much fanfare at Dharamsala yesterday in the presence of Rathore while Shukla was present virtually from Delhi. “Notwithstanding the tearing of banners carrying the pictures of Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, we will continue to extend help to Covid patients in this hour of crisis,” said Bali. He refrained from commenting on the poster war.

There were others who commented that the photographs of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya alone were carried on posters put up in the Shimla (Rural) and Arki Assembly segments that they represent, so why they have a problem now when others put up posters with the pictures of central and state leaders.

They pointed out that the posters did not even have the Congress symbol (hand) or the name of the party.

Party sources said it appeared that a faction of the Congress seems to be perturbed at Bali being made the in-charge of the committee constituted to help Covid patients. “Can there be a better display of infighting in the party. Such bickering will only help the BJP,” wrote Congress supporters.