Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday mocked Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi over the latter’s alleged statements on “coconut juice” and “potato factories”. Gandhi’s statements, however, were misquoted. The Congress accused the prime minister of feeding the voters with lies while releasing a video of his speech in Imphal on Twitter.
Speaking at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharganj, Modi said Gandhi told Manipuri voters that he would be happy if coconut juice from the state was exported to places Like London. “In fact, a coconut possesses water [and not juice] and it is grown in Kerala. It is like setting up a potato factory,” Modi said while referring to Gandhi’s earlier reported statements about helping people set up potato factories in Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported.
“Here [in Manipur] you grow nimbu, narangi [oranges], pineapple… I hope that such a day comes that when someone in London drinks pineapple juice, they look at the box and see ‘Made in Manipur’,” The Indian Express quoted Gandhi’s original statement.
Some media reports on February 28, however, had quoted the Congress leader as saying, “I would also want someone drinking coconut juice in London to see a ‘Made in Manipur’ written on it.” In Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi was quoted as saying “You all are demanding a potato factory in your area, but you should understand I am an opposition leader. I can put pressure on the government, but I cannot take the decision. I cannot open a potato factory for farmers”.
In Manipur, the two-phase Assembly elections in the state will be held on March 4 and March 8. The results will be declared on March 11. In Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party is pitted against the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance in a seven phase election. The votes will be counted on March 11.
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