"No even his party takes him seriously": Fadnavis on Rahul's 'Panauti' jibe at PM Modi

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22 : Hitting back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark, blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's defeat to Australia in the final of the cricket World Cup, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the latter may bring bad luck to 'corrupt' leaders in the Opposition but people regard him as a 'messiah'.
Addressing a public meeting at Barmer in poll-bound Rajasthan on Tuesday, the Congress MP called PM Modi a 'Panauti' (conveyor of bad luck) and linked India's loss in the World Cup final to his presence at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Responding to Rahul's remark, Fadnavis told ANI on Wednesday, "Who all are running scared of PM Modi these days? It's the corrupt leaders and evil-doers who are living in fear of him. Hence, it is quite normal for them to feel that way about him. However, for the common man, PM Modi remains a messiah, the country's saviour from corruption. They regard Prime Minister Modi as a leader who is determined to take the country forward."
"As far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned, not even his own party leaders take him seriously. So, even I don't take him seriously," the Maharashtra deputy CM added.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also came down heavily on Rahul for his remarks, saying that the Wayanad MP is carrying forward the Congress's tradition of hurling abuses at PM Modi.
"Is this the way to encourage citizens to take up sports?" Sitharaman asked.
At the public meeting in Barmer, Rahul said, "Our guys were playing well, they would have won the World Cup. But 'Panauti' made us lose. The TV guys won't tell you this but people know."
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, flayed the Congress leader over his choice of word for PM Modi and demanded that he tender an apology.
"What happened to you, Rahul Gandhi? You are using such words for the Prime Minister of the country. Our Prime Minister met the players (after the defeat) and motivated them. Winning or losing is part of the game. Rahul Gandhi needs to apologise," Prasad said.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that such words from Opposition leaders show signs of "desperation" and "mental instability".