Jalebis for Rahul Gandhi. Jalebis for the Congress.
The BJP’s Haryana unit celebrated a thrilling comeback Tuesday to win a historic third consecutive Assembly election by sending a kilogram of the fried sweet dish to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at his Delhi office. The gesture, though, not one of friendship or courtesy to a beaten rival.
It was, instead, a jubilant swipe over his comment about jalebis from Haryana’s Gohana.
“On behalf of all the workers of Bhartiya Janta Party (in) Haryana, jalebis have been sent to Rahul Gandhi‘s home,” the party said on X. Attached was a screenshot from a food delivery app confirming an order from a Delhi-based sweets and chaat shop to Mr Gandhi.
Why jalebis?
While campaigning Mr Gandhi spoke about jalebis from the area being mass manufactured and sold across the country, as well as being exported, to generate employment and revenue.
He claimed jalebi sellers had been hurt by the centre’s GST, or Goods and Services Tax, system.
The remarks drew (predictably so) jibes from BJP leaders who declared Mr Gandhi ‘clueless’ about how the sweet dish is prepared. Ex Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “I also like Gohana jalebi… but one has to understand how they are made and are sold.”
The BJP veteran declared Mr Gandhi “does not do his homework properly”.
But it isn’t just Mr Gandhi who has used the jalebis in a campaign speech this year; Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking before the April-June general election, did so too.
Mr Modi used the jalebi to make what seemed to be unsubstantiated claim – that the opposition INDIA bloc’s plan to rotate the Prime Minister’s post every year in the event they won.
“Ask them – is Prime Minister’s post our Matu Ram ki jalebi?” he asked.
Gohana jalebis were first made in 1958, when a local businessman called Matu Ram began selling it. Today his business is run by his grandsons.
“The jalebi is made of pure desi ghee… it is crispy yet soft… and each one weighs around 250 gram. A box of four, weighing about one kilogram, costs ₹ 320,” Raman Gupta, one of the grandsons, told PTI.
In a curious blend of humor and political mockery, the Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) placed an order for a box of jalebis for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, set to be delivered to the Congress office. The unusual gesture comes amidst the ongoing rivalry between the two major political parties in India, showcasing a light-hearted yet sarcastic approach to the political discourse. Here’s a closer look at the event, its implications, and the political climate surrounding it.
The Jalebi Gesture: A Sweet Yet Sour Symbol
The incident in question began when the Haryana BJP unit decided to send a box of jalebis to Rahul Gandhi, allegedly poking fun at the Congress leader after his recent statements and public appearances. Jalebi, a popular Indian sweet, is often associated with being twisted and convoluted, much like the nature of Indian politics. The BJP’s gesture was reportedly intended as a sarcastic remark on Gandhi’s political strategies and speeches, which the ruling party has frequently criticized as “circular” and lacking substance.
By sending a box of the famous dessert to the Congress headquarters, the BJP appears to have made a statement about the “twisted” nature of Gandhi’s remarks. While the BJP didn’t provide an official explanation for the gesture, insiders suggest that it is a subtle political jibe meant to highlight what they consider Gandhi’s inconsistencies.
Rahul Gandhi and the BJP: A History of Political Barbs
Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family, has often found himself at the receiving end of the BJP’s sharp political commentary. His speeches, particularly those on economic and social issues, have frequently been labeled as confusing or misleading by the ruling party. The BJP has accused Gandhi of lacking a clear direction in his leadership of the Congress party and frequently targets him for his statements both in Parliament and during election rallies.
This jalebi stunt comes on the heels of a series of verbal attacks exchanged between BJP leaders and Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi’s pointed criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies—ranging from the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic to the government’s economic reforms—has kept the tension between the two parties at a consistent high. His sharp words on unemployment, farmer protests, and China’s border incursions have been particularly scathing, and the BJP has responded with equal vigor.
Congress Responds: Humor or Insult?
While the Congress party has yet to make an official statement on the delivery of the jalebis, insiders suggest that the party is unlikely to take the gesture seriously. Political mockery is not new in Indian politics, where parties often exchange jabs in public and on social media platforms. However, some members of the Congress party have expressed concern over the growing trivialization of political debate in India.
According to some Congress leaders, stunts like the jalebi delivery detract from serious political discourse. They argue that instead of engaging in meaningful discussions on issues like unemployment, inflation, and governance, the BJP is resorting to gimmicks that do not address the country’s real problems. The jalebi episode may be dismissed as light-hearted by some, but others believe it reflects the increasing personalization of political battles in India.
Public Reaction: Social Media Frenzy
As with most political events in India, the jalebi stunt quickly went viral on social media platforms, with hashtags such as #JalebiForRahul trending across Twitter. While BJP supporters found the gesture hilarious and a clever political move, Congress supporters criticized it as a distraction from more important issues.
Memes, jokes, and parodies filled social media timelines, with many users debating whether the incident was a harmless political prank or a sign of the declining quality of political discourse in the country. Some argued that in a democracy, satire and humor should be embraced, while others felt that such actions were disrespectful and did little to raise the level of public debate.
A Reflection of Indian Political Culture
The jalebi stunt encapsulates the increasingly theatrical nature of Indian politics, where symbolism, satire, and even food can become tools for political maneuvering. Over the years, political parties in India have often engaged in such symbolic gestures to convey their messages to the public, sometimes with humor and other times with bitterness.
In this case, the jalebi delivery serves as a reminder of the fine line between political humor and disrespect. It also brings into focus the need for greater focus on policy issues rather than personal attacks. While such incidents may provide momentary amusement, they often distract from the critical discussions on governance, policy, and public welfare that are urgently needed in India today.
Conclusion: More Than Just Jalebi
In conclusion, the Haryana BJP’s jalebi order for Rahul Gandhi is emblematic of the ongoing political tensions between the BJP and Congress. While it may be seen as a humorous jibe by some, it also reflects the personalization of political conflict in India. As political debates increasingly shift toward gimmicks and social media-friendly stunts, there is a growing call for a return to substantive discussions that address the real issues facing the nation. Whether or not this jalebi episode will have a lasting impact on the political landscape remains to be seen, but it certainly adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing rivalry between India’s two largest political parties.
