On a day when Congress was trying to corner the ruling BJP with its nation-wide fasting, the ‘chole bhature’ viral photo took the steam out of the protest.
Congress leader Amrinder Singh Lovely, Ajay Maken and Haroon Yusuf were seen in the photo tweeted by BJP leader Harish Khurana.
While Congress leaders in Delhi continued to give explanation for their ‘feasting’ before fasting, another leader in Jaipur was caught on camera having pistachios just ahead of the token hunger strike.
In Rajasthan, a video went viral on social media showing AICC general secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Avinash Pandey chewing a couple of pistachios nuts while attending NSUI National Convention ‘Inquilab’ in Jaipur. He stopped eating nuts suddenly when his clicked in photos by scribes.
The foundation day of student wing of the Congress was celebrated at Tagore Public school in Mansarovar, which was attended by top leaders including Pandey, RPCC chief Sachin Pilot and Leader of Opposition Rameshwer Dudi on Monday morning.
The leaders sitting on stage were having in front tables which were placed with bowls of dried-fruits like pistachios, almonds and energy drinks.
When his action captured in the cameras which also drew his attention, Pandey suddenly stopped chewing the nuts. Pilot and Dudi, too, had bowls of nuts, but none picked and kept restrained themselves. Later, Pandey reached to Shaheed Smark at Government hostel where observed fast along with senior leaders from 11 am to 5 pm. AICC general secretaries CP Joshi, Mohan Prakash and Congress LoP in Rajya Sabha Gulam Babi Azad were also present on the occasion.
Pandey’s video soon went viral on social media drew sharp criticism by the users who questioned of his feasting before fasting and brought a big embarrassment to the party.
Apart from Pandey, several leaders and workers who attended the fast were also found taking energy at fast food centers situated at MI road before sitting on collective fast.
Meanwhile, Pandey gave a different version on the chewing. “I was chewing gum, not the pistachio. Secondly, we should not hype such trivial issues. We observed fasting for the brotherhood and harmony in the society and this positive aspect should be spread and highlighted only.”
