The world 'according to Rahul Gandhi' - Coca-Cola founder as 'shikanji' seller, McDonald's founder as 'dhaba wala'

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today cited the examples of successful American entrepreneurs to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies but took the analogies too far by describing the founder of Coca-Cola as a 'shinkanji seller' and that of McDonald's a 'dhaba wala'.

He also said the founders of Ford, Mercedes and Honda were 'mechanics' whose skills were recognised by the meritocratic system in their countries and allowed them to prosper.

Addressing a convention of OBC workers of the Congress, Gandhi sought to emphasise the point that the Modi government ignored skills and talent and did not provide the right opportunities to backward classes with entrepreneurial drive.

In that context, he talked about the founders of world-renowned companies such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's.

"Everyone must have heard about the Coca-Cola company. Who started this company. Who was he, does anyone know? I will tell you who he was. The person who started the Coca-Cola company was one who sold 'shikanji'. He used to sell 'shikanji' in America. He used to mix sugar in water. His experience and talent was honoured and he got money and started the Coca-Cola company.

"You must have heard about McDonald's company, which is seen everywhere. Who started it and what did he do? He used to run a 'dhaba' (roadside restaurant). You show me that 'dhaba-walla' in India who has created a company like Coca-Cola. Where is it?"
Someone also 'tampered' with the Wikipedia page of John Pemberton, the American pharmacist who is best known as the developer and founder of Coca-Cola. In the first paragraph of the Wikipedia page, someone had added: "He used to sell lemonade (Shikhanji) in his earlier days along with Gandhi family."