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Was union minister Smriti Irani’s complaint of a 'Peeping Tom' of a camera outside a Fabindia trial room in Panaji a public relations stunt? Was Irani, recently dropped from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Executive, taking her revenge on party leadership as the executive started its deliberations in Bengaluru?
Tweets from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi seem to suggest that there is more to the Panaji incident. Lekhi couched her suspicion by questioning the media’s “emphasis” in highlighting as “inane” an issue as the Irani episode in Panaji rather than more weighty matters discussed at the national executive.
Irani's red-flagging of the Fabindia outlet camera that she alleged peeped into the trial room of the outlet did indeed push out the news of the national executive, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Bengaluru in the evening, from television headlines as well as the front pages of leading newspapers.
“Do I smell a RAT2 (to) obfuscate the BJP nat. (national) executive meeting, attempts being made not to cover NE meeting, instead cover some other inane issues?” Lekhi tweeted a little after midnight on Friday. An hour later she followed it up by tweeting this: “response to my previous tweet show the intent, while one story is relevant as news other is a discussion material questioning not Smriti ji but media for emphasis.”
Lekhi, a lawyer who rose to prominence with her feisty defence of her party as the BJP spokesperson, tweeted again to say that “whoever wants to quote or play the recent tweets please play both to avoid any spin or confusion.”
Lekhi could argue that she wasn't exactly imputing a motive to Irani choosing to highlight the issue, which has led the Goa government to order a temporary shutdown of the outlet and arrest of four of its employees, at the time the national executive was going on. But few, particularly among women, would agree with Lekhi describing the issue that Irani raised as "inane" or merely "discussion material".
But Lekhi has indeed given voice to something that has been remarked upon in hushed tones within the party.
It is a little known secret how several in the BJP, particularly its younger faces, resent Irani having been appointed as the Human Resource Development Minister, that too with full cabinet rank when she has no previous experience, while they warm the back benches of the Lok Sabha. Lekhi is one such MP.
Irani, lately, has been in the news for taking on Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav for his remarks in the Rajya Sabha on complexion of women. Irani forced Yadav to apologise for his remarks. Few from the BJP benches came forward to defend Irani when Yadav caustically questioned Irani's successful political career.
It is, however, still not reliably known what led party President Amit Shah to drop Irani from the national executive.
