Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty on Saturday took exception to the party's swipe at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, based on remarks of her estranged husband, wherein the latter accused the Modi government of fanning anarchy and hatemongering in the country.
The Congress shared an interview of Parakala Prabhakar on its X handle, dated April 7, showing his tirade against the Modi dispensation while adding that he is the husband of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A leading publication from South reported, citing Prabhakar's remarks, that the elections will "cease to happen" in the country if the Modi government bags a third term.
"Political economist and husband of Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman, Parakala Prabhakar said if the BJP wins the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and PM Narendra Modi is re-elected again in 2024, then there will never be elections in the country again," wrote The Hindu newspaper on X, while sharing the news.
The news report created a storm on social media and elicited many reactions. Many termed it a "blatant attempt to sensationalise" the matter and a "mischievous" bid to sully the image of the Finance Minister. Some termed it a "real blow for the media" while others slammed the Congress spokespersons for trolling the Finance Minister over her separated husband's personal observations.
Chakravarty, also the Head of Data Analytics department and Chairman of All India Professionals' Congress (AIPC), slammed the report and said that such attempts to denigrate Finance Minister must be avoided despite political differences.
"Political and ideological differences aside, I agree that this constant dig at FM Sitharaman using her (estranged) husband is in bad taste and needs to stop," the Congress leader wrote.
Even the news publication's former bosses didn't concur with such "falling standards of reporting".
Malini Parthasarathy, former chairperson of The Hindu Group, called it a "real low blow for media" and also called out misogynist haters for distasteful comments.
“It's real low blow for media and Opposition party spokespersons to troll the Union Finance Minister, every time Parakala Prabhakar makes his own observations. It's a sheer malice and deliberate baiting of Ms Sitharaman by misogynists who can't understand that women can be successful and lead their own lives," wrote Malini Parthasarathy.
"It's known that Nirmala Sitharaman and Parakala Prabhakar lead separate lives. This baiting of Ms Sitharaman for remarks unconnected to her is unfair and has got to stop," she added.
Parakal Prabhakar is a noted economist and social commentator. He also had brief stints in politics. He was the official spokesperson of BJP in early 2000s and later joined Praja Rajyam Party and then quit it in 2009 over disagreements with the party's functioning.
Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Dutta leaves for the US to attend UN Population Development Commission
Supriya Das Dutta, Sabhadhipati, Sepahijala Zilla Parishad will attend the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on Population development to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York from April 29.
NHM Tripura to launches mass campaign to register people under ABHA
The Tripura unit of the National Health Mission (NHM) is set to launch a mass campaign starting from the 3rd of May to register people under the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) especially focusing on the rural areas.
'My name is the guarantee of security in the country', PM Modi says in Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that his name is the guarantee of security in the country, adding it was his primary duty to protect the citizens of the nation.
9 held for gang rape of minors in Meghalaya
Nine persons were arrested by the police in connection with the rape of minor girls in the South West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, officials said on Sunday.
Indian Coast Guard apprehends Pakistani boat with huge consignment of narcotics
In a major success, the Indian Coast Guard, following an overnight aerial-maritime joint operation with the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on Sunday apprehended a Pakistan boat in the Arabian Sea, west of Gujarat's Porbandar, and seized a large haul of narcotics.
Decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken on next day of Independence, PM Modi says in K'taka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken the very next day after the country achieved Independence in 1947.
Rahul slams BJD-BJP in Odisha rally, says both in collusion to benefit few corporates
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stepping up the party’s campaign in Odisha on Sunday lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government and the opposition BJP while accusing them of having ‘married’ each other for personal gains and befooling the public.
PM Modi has already scored a century in first two phases of LS polls: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already scored a century of seats in the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls.