BJP ridicules Rahul Gandhi over mangoes reportedly received from Pakistan
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has targeted the opposition following reports that the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi sent cartons of mangoes to seven MPs, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The mangoes were also reportedly sent to Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor, Samajwadi Party MPs Mohibbullah Nadvi, and others. Commenting on the alleged gift, Union Minister Giriraj Singh alleged that Gandhi has "napak" (impure) ties with Pakistan.
'Rahul Gandhi has impure ties with Pakistan,' says Singh
"Some time ago Rahul Gandhi said that he doesn't like mangoes from Uttar Pradesh. Pakistan Embassy has sent mangoes to Rahul Gandhi now. He should tell what other things he likes," Singh was quoted as saying. "Rahul Gandhi went to ask Pakistan for some new way to remove Modi. He has unholy relations with Pakistan)," the BJP leader added.
'They're receiving mangoes from the place their heart lies': Thakur
BJP MP Anurag Thakur also criticized the opposition leaders for receiving mangoes from Pakistan. He stated, "They are receiving mangoes from the place their heart lies... He (Rahul Gandhi) doesn't like the mangoes of UP, but he seems excited about the mangoes from Pakistan." Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya questioned why only these seven MPs were chosen by the Pakistan High Commission to receive the mango cartons.
Check out Malviya's post
Mangoes and diplomacy
Mangoes have long been used as a diplomatic tool. Sheikh Hasina, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, has sent mangoes to PM Modi practically every year since he took office. She had also sent mangos to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi. According to Ministry of External Affairs records, India engaged in this type of diplomacy with China in the 1950s, prior to the Indo-China War.
