Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, has openly criticized supporters of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of labeling her late father as a “Sanghi” following his visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur. She challenged these individuals to question Gandhi’s 2018 gesture of hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a parliamentary debate, suggesting that by their logic, such an act would imply complicity.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sharmistha expressed skepticism about the future of the Congress party under Gandhi’s leadership, referring to his supporters as “vicious fools & sycophants.” She further invited them to criticize her, stating, “I give a damn!”
The discord extends to her brother, Abhijit Mukherjee, who defended the Congress party’s actions following their father’s death in August 2020. Sharmistha had previously expressed disappointment over the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) failure to convene a condolence meeting after Pranab Mukherjee’s passing. Abhijit attributed this to COVID-19 restrictions at the time, noting that only a limited number of family members and friends could attend the funeral. He mentioned that both Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi paid their respects in person.
Sharmistha responded sharply to her brother’s defense, accusing him of seeking to rejoin a party whose followers allegedly disparage their father. She used the term “dented-painted” to describe him, referencing a controversial remark he made in 2012 during the Nirbhaya protests.
This public family dispute highlights internal tensions within the Congress party and raises questions about its treatment of senior leaders and their legacies.
