Kerala LDF MLA seeks Rahul’s DNA test, Cong blames Pinarayi for insult

KOZHIKODE: Animosity between INDIA bloc’s bickering bedfellows in Kerala turned embarrassingly personal on Tuesday, with LDF’s Nilambur legislator P V Anvar asking for a DNA test on Congress’s Rahul Gandhi because he doubted if someone like the Wayanad MP could be a Gandhi-Nehru scion.

“Rahul Gandhi has no right to use Gandhi surname. He has reached the level of a fourthclass citizen. Can such a person be born into the Nehru family? I doubt it,” Anvar, whose assembly seat is part of Wayanad LS constituency, said during a rally in Palakkad. Anvar’s salvo was in response to Rahul asking why central agencies were sparing CM Pinarayi Vijayan when two others — exJharkhand CM Hemant Soren and Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal – were already in jail.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said, “We think the insult had the tacit approval of Vijayan.”Anvar’s remarks, which came three days before all 20 LS seats in Kerala vote in the second phase, received CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s endorsement amid a backlash from Congress. “Rahul Gandhi was bound to get a reply for what he said. He is not beyond reproach,” the CM told reporters in Kannur, alluding to Rahul targeting him.

Congress’ K C Venugopal termed the attack “shocking and detestable”, saying it amounted to “insulting Rajiv Gandhi, who sacrificed his life for the country”.

Congress MLA A P Anilkumar said Congress-led UDF had lodged a complaint with EC and the state police chief. KPCC acting president MM Hassan demanded that police immediately file a case against Anvar, whom he called “the new avatar of Godse”.

“His words are deadlier than Godse’s bullets that killed Gandhiji. Anvar made a remark that should never come from a people’s representative,” he said. The video of his speech is being aired on various (TV) channels... He not only defamed Rahul in his speech but also hurt the sentiments of millions of Indians by disrespecting the memory of former PMs Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.”

Leader of the opposition V D Satheesan said chief minister Vijayan had been attacking Congress and Rahul Gandhi since the start of the election campaign, “based on an understanding with BJP”.

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