Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee locked horns on social media after the Minister accused Rathee of acting as a spokesperson for the Congress party.
The confrontation began when Rijiju shared a snippet of an old video featuring Rathee criticizing corruption under the Congress-led UPA government. Rijiju's caption emphasized Rathee's past critique of the Congress, implying inconsistency in his political stance.
Responding to Rijiju's post, Rathee released a video addressing the old footage. He defended his previous remarks, asserting their relevance to the political climate at the time. However, Rathee shifted the focus to Rijiju's alleged statements on beef consumption, questioning the BJP's stance on the issue despite Rijiju's denial of consuming beef.
Rathee also raised concerns about electoral bonds and accused the Modi government of jeopardizing public health by accepting donations from pharmaceutical companies with questionable products.
Rijiju retaliated by labelling Rathee as a "spokesman" for the Congress and AAP, urging him to channel his energy towards constructive endeavours rather than criticizing others.
However, Rathee fired back, accusing Rijiju of spreading darkness and playing with the lives of citizens by accepting donations in exchange for allowing substandard medicines into the market. He called for honesty and integrity in politics, directing similar criticisms at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rijiju's attempt to discredit Rathee by associating him with opposition parties reflects the political strategy of undermining critics and deflecting attention from substantive issues. Conversely, Rathee's counterattacks aimed to expose alleged wrongdoing within the government, emphasizing the importance of holding elected officials accountable for their actions.
The verbal sparring between Rijiju and Rathee resonated with millions of viewers, sparking debates across social media platforms. Rathee's video garnered over 1.7 million views, indicating widespread interest in political discourse and accountability.