Did Rahul like Modi play ‘Maa’ card by tweeting about Sonia Gandhi’s health?

Rahul Gandhi tweeted by using the word "Ma" to tell the supporters of the Gandhi family that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was fine after she was rushed to a hospital in the national capital.

New Delhi, Oct 28: We Indians easily get emotional when it comes to "Maa" (mother). It's pretty natural. Feelings like love and respect for mothers are universal. But at times, it is this very "Maa" emotion which can be used as a tool to manipulate others.

From our homes to public spaces, we all have been 'blackmailed' because of this "Maa" emotion at some point of our lives. Of late, we are witnessing how frequently our politicians are using the "Maa card" to win the hearts of gullible voters.

In a 'traditional' country like India, one is generally considered "pious" if he/she continuously talks about mother. However, figures showcase a very different picture as many elderly women, most of whom are Maa too, are leading lives of poverty and neglect as their 'good' children blissfully forget their 'dear' mother.

Now, coming to Maa connection with politics, often we see Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking about his mother and his immense love for her. Although the PM does not stay with his mother, every now and then he visits Heeraben (97) in Gujarat.

PM Modi never celebrates his birthday before taking the blessings of his mother. The entire country got a glimpse of the nonagenarian in a wheelchair at a bank in Gandhinagar last year to exchange old notes after her son announced demonetisation that led to the ban of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 old currency notes.

It is the viral picture of Heeraben inside a bank which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the PM used to "demonise" critics of demonetisation.

The ruling party at the Centre facing flak over demonetisation, announced on November 8, from a section of citizens, economists and politicians tried to emphasise the fact that if Modi's mother, who is wheelchair-bound and old, can visit a bank to exchange old notes, why are people getting grumpy over waiting in never-ending queues outside banks and ATMs during the peak season of demonetisation.

But the opposition alleged that Modi was "using" his mother to target the critics of demonetisation. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal stated that he would have never sent his 'old' mother to a bank to exchange notes.

Taking a leaf out of Modi's 'Maa book', Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday tweeted by using the word "Ma" (some write it as Maa too) at the beginning of his sentence to tell the supporters of the Gandhi family that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was fine after she was rushed to a hospital in the national capital.

"Ma was in Shimla & caught a stomach bug so we got her back. Nothing to worry, she's much better. Thanks for the tremendous love and concern," tweeted Rahul, stressing on the word 'Ma'.

Of late, we are seeing how Rahul is tweeting and targeting the Modi government over every issue under the sun. This 'trick' of Rahul is actually working, as many are appreciating this new Twitter-friendly avatar of the Gandhi scion.

However, Friday's tweet caught the attention of all as Rahul rarely talks about his mother and the kind of relationship he shares with her in public forums. In fact, Rahul in the past has talked about his father Rajiv Gandhi and grandmother Indira Gandhi on several occasions.

Rahul and Sonia are often seen together in public meetings and functions, but the junior Gandhi never talks about her with so much force and emotion as is clearly evident in his "Ma" tweet.

So, will the latest tweet of Rahul help in building his image as a Maa-friendly beta of India in times of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections?

OneIndia News