In a recent election rally in Nagpur, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar made controversial remarks that have sparked a row. While campaigning ahead of the Maharashtra elections, Kanhaiya criticised Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him of promoting divisive rhetoric.
He also took aim at Fadnavis's wife, Amruta Fadnavis, without mentioning her name directly. His remarks centred on the idea that while politicians call for the public to “save religion,” their own families seem detached from these concerns, with leaders’ children studying abroad and their spouses engaging in seemingly trivial activities.
Kanhaiya's comments, which targeted Fadnavis and his wife, seemed to question the sincerity of political leaders who preach about religious battles. He posed the question of how the public can be expected to save religion while political leaders live lives that seem far removed from the struggles they claim to represent.
He specifically pointed out Amruta Fadnavis’s social media presence, where she frequently shares Instagram reels. Kanhaiya remarked that if the political discourse is indeed a “dharma yudh” or religious war, then it should be questioned whether the families of these leaders are involved in the fight or merely focused on their own pursuits.
The controversy escalated when Kanhaiya also made comments about Union Home Minister Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah, the current International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman.
Kanhaiya criticised Jay Shah's involvement in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and his role in cricket, drawing a parallel between his privileged position and the ordinary public, who are encouraged to engage in activities like online fantasy cricket games, like Dream 11.
These remarks were seen as an attempt to expose the hypocrisy of those who preach traditional values while seemingly leading lives disconnected from those they claim to represent. Kanhaiya’s comments have not gone unnoticed, as BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla quickly condemned them.
He called Kanhaiya’s statements an insult to every Marathi woman and also referenced Kanhaiya’s controversial history, specifically his 2016 arrest on charges of sedition after an event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to commemorate the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
This latest political spat comes amid a heated political environment in Maharashtra, where Devendra Fadnavis, now contesting from Nagpur Southwest, has been facing increasing scrutiny.
His remarks earlier this year on “vote jihad” had stirred controversy, accusing certain vote consolidations, particularly within Muslim communities, of affecting the electoral success of the Mahayuti alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Fadnavis claimed that the consolidation of Muslim votes helped the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance secure significant victories in several constituencies.
Kanhaiya's sharp remarks reflect the growing tensions in Maharashtra's political landscape, especially as the state gears up for its upcoming election. The clash between Congress and BJP leaders appears to be intensifying, with both sides accusing each other of hypocrisy and divisiveness.
Kanhaiya’s comment on Amruta Fadnavis has undoubtedly added fuel to the fire, as it touches on personal lives while questioning the very integrity of political leaders.
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