‘Smriti Irani missing’ posters come up, people ask her ‘Is Amethi only a tour hub for you?’

Union Minister Smriti Irani who had featured in an ‘antakshari’ programme launched by Hindi channel Aaj Tak to “keep people engaged and mentally fit” during the initial days of the nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing people’s wrath in her own constituency.

Black and white posters featuring Irani’s photograph and sarcastic comments about her whereabouts have shown up in all 13 blocks of Amethi.

“Queries to the missing MP: Irani ji, you registered your presence within hours after becoming MP from Amethi (that too just for a few hours on two days in two years)…people of Amethi are worried and living in fear due to Corona pandemic,” the posters read.

“We have seen you play ‘antakshari’ on Twitter, give food to some individuals, but the people of Amethi are looking for you to address their needs and difficulties. Leaving the people of Amethi without help depicts that Amethi is just a tour hub for you. Will you only come to Amethi to lend a shoulder to it?” they go on to add.

Apparently, the last line of the poster refers to Irani’s visit to Amethi just days after winning the Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2019, when she visited it to attend the last rites of BJP worker Surendra Singh, who was shot dead on May 25 last year, and shoulder Singh’s bier.

Many users, including Congress leaders, took to Twitter to share the posters, attacking Irani for her prolonged absence from her constituency.

The UP Congress’ Twitter handle shared the poster and commented, “Amethi is looking for Smriti Irani”.

Gaurav Pandhi, National Coordinator of Congress’ Digital Communications and Social Media took a potshot at Irnai and challenged Irani to continue playing ‘antakshari’ on Twitter.

The satirical Twitter account ‘Rolf Republic’ said people were looking for their MP, and said if anyone had any information about her, they should ‘alert the distressed voters of Amethi’.

Meanwhile, Smriti Irani reacted to the posters, saying, “Corona came to Amethi because your leaders violated the lockdown. Now you want me to break the lockdown rules to encourage people to do the same. Maybe you don’t love Amethi but I do...”