Lucknow: A row has erupted over Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 'UP-type' remark, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra saying on Wednesday that people of Uttar Pradesh are proud of their dialect and culture and that there was no need to "insult" the people of the state
Sitharaman's remarks had come after Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, who is also an MP from Uttar Pradesh, said on Tuesday that Rahul Gandhi did not understand the budget. After the former Congress President said that the government had delivered a zero-sum budget, Chaudhary had said, "Probably, Rahul Gandhi did not understand the budget, which is futuristic".
Reacting to Chaudhary's remarks on Rahul Gandhi, Sitharaman had said, "I think he (Chaudhary) has given that typical UP-type of an answer which is good enough for an MP who ran away from UP."
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In a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said, "@nsitharaman jee, you did not put anything in the budget bag for Uttar Pradesh. It is okay...But, what was the need to insult the people of UP like this. Please understand that people of UP feel proud to be of 'UP-type'. We are proud of UP's language, dialect, culture and history."
SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha also slammed the minister for the remark.
"The 'UP-type' remark made by a Union minister is not appropriate at all. It only shows a narrow mindset," Sinha said.
Trying to take a political gain from the issue congress has planned to send samples of 100 crafts to be made in Uttar Pradesh to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman so that she can know that the speciality of UP is its craft, quality and artistry. Things like Banaras sari to Congress finance minister, Bhadohi's carpet, Lucknow's chicken, Bulandshahr's pottery will be sent to her.
Dr Pankaj Srivastava, Vice Chairman, Media and Communication Team of UP Congress said that the Finance Minister has insulted a state which is not only known for its political consciousness but has its own intellectual history. Questioning the intelligence of Uttar Pradesh is like insulting the pride of the state. By insulting Uttar Pradesh, Nirmala Sitaraman is insulting the land of Ram and Krishna and it shows that the name of Ayodhya and Mathura is only a matter of politics for the BJP."
"The Congress party demands that the Finance Minister should immediately withdraw his statement and apologize and UP CM, Yogi Adityanath should also be asked that being the state head, what does he think about this statement of his party's union minister and whether he will object to the statement or does he has the courage to object statements of any of his union ministers?", Pankaj Srivastava added further.
(With agency inputs)
