'Panauti': Rahul Gandhi takes dig at PM Modi after India's World Cup defeat to Australia

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (November 21) as he blamed the latter’s presence in the stadium for India’s loss to Australia in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Addressing an election rally in poll-bound Rajasthan, Rahul said it was “panauti” (bad omen) who made India lose the match. “PM means Panauti Modi,” said Rahul, insinuating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brings bad luck. He said, “Ache bhale hamare ladke waha pe World Cup jeet jaate, par panauti harwa diya (Our boys would have won the World Cup, but the ‘bad omen’ made them lose).”

Referring to India’s loss in the cricket world cup final against Australia, the Congress MP used the term associated with bad luck. The word “panauti” has been trending on social media since the defeat in the match, attended by PM Modi at the Ahmedabad stadium named after him.

Rahul alleged Modi diverts people’s attention while industrialist Adani picks their pockets. He said Modi “comes on TV and says ‘Hindu- Muslim’ and sometimes goes to a cricket match. It is a different matter that the match was lost. Panauti.”

Addressing the rally in Baytoo in Balotra ahead of the November 25 assembly polls, the Congress leader also alleged Modi waived loans of big industrialists and gave them all advantages.

The Congress MP from Wayanad also slammed PM Modi for claiming to represent the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in his older speeches and later not doing anything for their development. He said OBCs were greater in number but the Centre was not bothered about their development.

PM Modi along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah had gone to the stadium to cheer for Team India. However, after India's loss, Modi could be seen consoling the members of the team inside their dressing room. The videos of his interaction with the cricketers have gone viral.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on PM Modi for consoling the Indian cricket team, calling the viral videos “choreographed consolation”.

“The video of the self-imposed, choreographed consolation by the ‘Master Of Drama in India’ has completely exposed the insincerity behind the photographs released yesterday. The face-saving exercise has backfired. The youth of India will not be fooled by these desperate antics,” he wrote on X.

(With agency inputs)