'Was 'embarrassed' at Rahul's remarks on dynasty politics'

NEW DELHI: It seems the BJP will not let Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi live down his recent remarks about dynastic politics. After being attacked by Smriti Irani, Venkaiah Naidu and Amit Shah, it is now finance minister Arun Jaitley's turn to once again slam Rahul for his take on India's so-called dynasty culture.

"Mujhe sharam aayi jab Amreeka mein baith ke kaha gaya ki parivarvaad is desh ke svabhaav mein hai (I was embarrassed when someone sitting in America said that dynasty politics is endemic to India)," Jaitley told a news agency on Tuesday.

The senior BJP leader went on to say that this kind of complacency regarding perpetuating a dynasty would only prove to be detrimental for a political party in the long run.

"Some parties may think that being centred around dynasty is an asset but in the long run it becomes a burden," he said.

Last week too, Jaitley had hit out at Rahul and describing his remarks a "national disgrace".

"Rahul Gandhi's statement (in the US) is a national disgrace and an onslaught on the wisdom of the Indian people... I think India deserves much better than a leadership based only on dynasty," the Union minister had said.

After delivering an address at UC Berkeley on September 12, Rahul had been asked about dynastic politics in India. While admitting that it was a problem, Rahul nevertheless defended his position as a political dynast by generalising the issue as being prevalent in all spheres of life in the country.

"Most parties in India have that problem. Akhilesh Yadav is a dynast. Stalin (son of M Karunanidhi in DMK) is a dynast... Even Abhishek Bachchan is a dynast. That's how India runs. So, don't go after me," Rahul had said.

The Gandhi scion's statement drew flak from the BJP and its allies, with Union minister Smriti Irani dubbing him "a failed dynast speaking about his failed political journey".