The BJP has launched a barrage of satirical attacks on the Congress's poll manifesto, alleging that it featured images from foreign locations like Thailand and the Buffalo River in New York. This accusation has led to widespread criticism of the Congress on social media platforms, with many questioning the use of foreign images in sections related to environment and water management in the manifesto.
Amit Malviya, the BJP's IT cell in-charge, mocked the Congress on social media platform X, suggesting that the manifesto resembled a holiday itinerary for Rahul Gandhi rather than a document for India's development. Malviya's taunt hinted at the perception of Gandhi's frequent vacations, including possible future trips to Thailand.
During a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also criticized Congress for the alleged blunder, particularly highlighting the use of a picture of the Buffalo River in New York under the water management section and a grasslands image from Thailand in the environment section. Trivedi's remark aimed at highlighting the lack of attention to detail in the Congress manifesto.
The incident drew comparisons to previous controversies involving Congress leaders, such as Supriya Shrinate's recent social media faux pas targeting Kangana Ranaut. Kanchan Gupta, a senior advisor, sarcastically referred to Rahul Gandhi's affinity for Thailand, suggesting its influence on the Congress's manifesto.
This isn't the first time such errors have occurred in political manifestos. Two years ago, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor faced criticism for a map of India in the party chief's election manifesto that excluded parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Similarly, the BJP faced ridicule in 2022 when leaders mistakenly used images of a Mumbai flyover to claim infrastructural development in Gujarat ahead of the Gujarat Assembly election.
These incidents serve as reminders of the importance of accuracy and attention to detail in political communication, especially during election campaigns where every detail is scrutinized by opponents and the public alike.
