Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A former cabinet minister and senior BJP MLA from Jabalpur, Ajay Vishnoi attacked his own party’s senior member of parliament (MP) from Uttar Pradesh unexpectedly and termed her as a ‘Ghatiya Mahila’.
Vishnoi’s comment came in response to Gandhi’s alleged comment on Nanaji Deshmukh veterinary science university in a viral audio clip.
“The way Mrs Maneka Gandhi spoke to veterinary doctor Vikas Sharma, a few days ago, doesn’t prove Veterinary College Jabalpur as a ‘Ghatiya’, but it surely proves that Mrs Gandhi is a ‘Nihayat Hi Ghatiya Mahila’. I am ashamed that she is Member of Parliament (not leader) of my party,” Vishnoi tweeted.
The MP from Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who is also an animal rights activist, Maneka Gandhi has been facing a harsh criticism from Indian Veterinary Association (IVA) and opposition after a purported audio clip of her abusive and threatening phone call to a veterinary doctor Vikas Sharma went viral on social media.
In the purported audio clip, Gandhi is heard saying that Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, is one of the worst universities, when veterinary doctor Vikas Sharma told her that he had obtained his degree from Jabalpur.
Later, two more alleged audio clips of abusive phone calls of Gandhi to two veterinary doctors also went viral on social media.
Following comments of Gandhi, the students and administration of the university staged a protest three days ago and submitted an application to Civil Lines Police station in Jabalpur, demanding an FIR against Gandhi.
University dean, while talking to journalists on Thursday, had said that a legal notice would be sent to Gandhi if she did not seek apology from students and alumni of the university.
The students of the university also asked the university’s ex-students to come forward to protect the identity and reputation of the university.
Notably, Dr Ajay Vishnoi, who is MLA from Patan assembly constituency, is a a former student of Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University. It is believed that Vishnoi’s comments against his own party leader came after his former classmates joined the protest against Gandhi.
This is not the first time that the former minister has criticised or questioned his own party leaders. Earlier, Vishnoi, who was not included in the cabinet of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s fourth term government, had questioned latter's functioning especially during the pandemic.
Maneka Gandhi, however, couldn't be contacted for comment even after repeated phone calls to her office.
