Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, encountered significant public anger during his visit to Wayanad in Kerala, a region severely impacted by recent landslides.
A local resident, visibly upset, chased after Rahul Gandhi's car, shouting, “Brother, tell him to stop the car! We are the ones who voted for him and made him win. He used to be the MP here.” He further questioned, “If he’s so worried about dirtying his legs in the mud, why did he even come here? What is he trying to see?”
The man had reportedly lost family members in the landslide. Sandeep Vaachaspathi, a spokesperson for the Kerala BJP, posted a video on X depicting the distress of the local populace as they followed Gandhi’s convoy.
Vaachaspathi commented, “Rahul Gandhi faced public outrage during his visit to the landslide-stricken areas of Wayanad.” He criticized Gandhi, a former MP for the region, calling him a “tourist MP” and accused him of neglecting his constituents by fleeing to Uttar Pradesh. “Rahul Gandhi arrived with a large PR team and multiple cameras, which only angered the locals who are grappling with the aftermath of the disaster,” Vaachaspathi said.
He also noted that while Gandhi was in Wayanad, he was not present at the location where the incident occurred. Vaachaspathi added, “The people of Wayanad are enduring one of the worst crises of their lives. Rahul Gandhi, whom they heavily voted for, has abandoned them in their time of need. It is shocking that he is treating his own constituency like a tourist destination. The people are frustrated and have demanded his departure. They do not want a representative who acts like a tourist. His absence during critical times is detrimental, and he should resign from politics as he is clearly unfit for public life.”
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, also shared the video on X, stating, “Angry protesters confronted Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Wayanad following the devastating landslide that has claimed over 300 lives. Balak Buddhi Rahul Gandhi bears responsibility because the Congress-led UPA government ignored the Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel report by Madhav Gadgil, which had specifically warned against harmful environmental practices in Mepaddi. As an MP from Wayanad, he failed the people once again.”
Another BJP leader from the Wayanad constituency claimed that Gandhi’s visit was causing disruptions in rescue operations, with vehicles being halted due to his presence.
In response, local Congress legislator T. Siddique argued that the video in question was edited. He explained to IANS that the person seen running after the vehicle was a supporter of the Congress-led UDF who had lost family members in the tragedy. Siddique contended, “The video being circulated is edited and manipulated for ulterior motives. I heard the individual speaking positively about Rahul Gandhi.”
Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, arrived in Wayanad on Thursday. Over the past two days, they have met numerous affected individuals and visited several disaster-stricken areas.
As the state endures its worst-ever natural calamity, the death toll from the Wayanad landslides reached 302 on Friday, with 206 people still missing as rescue efforts continue.
Read also | Rahul Gandhi Claims ED Raid is Imminent, Welcomes It Openly
Read also | JD(S) to Join August 3 Padayatra Led by Kumaraswamy, Announced BJP
