Kanhaiya Kumar Targets Fadnavis' Wife Amruta's Instagram Activity, Slams BJP's 'Dharma Yudh' Rhetoric

Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar accused Devendra Fadnavis of promoting divisive rhetoric, questioning why the public should be tasked with "saving religion" while the Deputy Chief Minister's wife is busy making Instagram reels.

Speaking at a rally in Nagpur ahead of the Maharashtra election, Kanhaiya emphasised that politicians need to be held accountable when they become arrogant.

His comment was widely interpreted as a dig at Fadnavis, who is contesting from the Nagpur Southwest constituency against Congress's Prafulla Gudadhe.

Without directly naming her, Kanhaiya targeted Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of BJP leader, who is active on social media and works as a classical singer and banker.

"If this is a 'dharma yudh' (religious war), question any leader who speaks about saving religion. Ask them if their own children will join the fight to save religion. How can the public be asked to save religion while the leader's children study abroad? How can the public bear this responsibility while the Deputy Chief Minister's wife makes Instagram reels?" Kanhaiya said.

He also took aim at Home Minister Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah, who chairs the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"Will Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah, join in to save religion? He is forming IPL teams in the BCCI, while we are told to make teams on Dream 11. They show us dreams of becoming cricketers, but we end up as gamblers," Kanhaiya remarked.

In response, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla described Kanhaiya's comments about Amruta Fadnavis as an "insult to every Marathi woman."

Poonawalla also reminded the public of Kanhaiya's past, referring to him as a supporter of terrorist and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, referencing Kanhaiya's arrest in 2016 on charges of sedition over a controversial event at JNU marking Guru's death anniversary.

Kanhaiya's remarks come shortly after Fadnavis blamed "vote jihad" for the ruling alliance's poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the consolidation of Muslim votes helped the Maha Vikas Aghadi win in at least 14 out of 48 seats.