‘Prime Publicity Minister’: Priyanka on Modi-Akshay Kumar Chat

Priyanka Gandhi termed the prime minister “Pradhan Prachar Mantri” or chief publicity minister.

(Photo: Reuters)

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his latest 'non-political' interview with actor Akshay Kumar on Wednesday, 24 April.

While addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said, “Yesterday you may have seen him interviewing with big, noteworthy actors but you will never see him with people. I went to Varanasi recently, and I came to know that in the past five years, the prime minister hasn’t gone to any village.”

She also termed the prime minister “pradhan prachar mantri” or chief publicity minister.

Gandhi has been rallying across eastern Uttar Pradesh since her foray into mainstream politics.

Earlier in the day, she asked voters to help end the politics of divisiveness and negativity to help build a better future for future generations.

"Change politics, not only of your area or for your needs, but for your future generations and to save the country, as the country is in danger," she said at an election meeting in Fatehpur Sikri.

The Congress leader told voters that they should not allow a person, who speaks “lies and does not work for you”, to move ahead. Fatehpur goes to polls on 6 May in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls.

‘Can’t Hide Behind Garb of Acting’

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also reacted to the interview with a video on Twitter. In his tweet, Gandhi said, “One can't hide behind the garb of acting, when faced with reality, much like an incompetent chowkidar can't evade the public gaze.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also tweeted, “Excuse my ignorance but how does one say tu taan in English?”

The Congress on Wednesday said, “It seems a ‘failed politician’ who is about to be rejected by the people on 23 May is looking for an alternative employment avenue in Bollywood.”

The Congress’s jibe at Modi came after channels aired the prime minister’s interview with the Bollywood star, who described it as a “candid and completely non-political” chat.

Reacting to the interview, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said: "Akshay Kumar ji is a great actor and we like him. He is a very successful actor. An unsuccessful politician who has decimated India's economy, who has decimated India's jobs, who has made life hell for India's farmers and the poor, is now trying to become a better actor than Akshay Kumar ji."

“It seems a failed politician who is about to be rejected on 23 May, is looking for an alternative employment avenue in Bollywood, but I don’t think a failed politician like Modi ji will be a successful actor in Bollywood. Akshay Kumar will remain Akshay Kumar.”

Randeep Singh Surjewala

(With inputs from PTI)