The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday took a jibe at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's reappearance from a 57-day 'leave of absence' by reminding him that there is no item numbers in politics.
"The Congress Party is saying that Mr. Rahul Gandhi will conduct a successful Kisan rally, to which we would say there is no item number in Indian politics or politics as such. You can't just reappear, attend a rally and then vanish again. You have to be serious," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI.
He added that Rahul's return from his sabbatical had hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
"This is for the first time in Indian politics that an important member of a political party was absconding for such a long period of time and his return has become news," said Patra.
"Mr. Rahul Gandhi today has to talk to the nation and the nation really wants to know whether Mr. Rahul Gandhi wants to continue in politics or not," he added.
The BJP leader also sought to remind Rahul that there is nothing called "part time politics".
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"Politics is a complete full time job because you are not just the vice president of the Congress you are also a Member of Parliament representing a constituency," he said.
"You just cannot shy away from your duties that you have promised to deliver to the people of your constituency," Patra added.
Rahul ended his 57-day sabbatical from politics today by arriving at his 12, Tughlaq Road residence a short while ago.
As per reports, he was welcomed by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and his sister Priyanka at his Delhi home.
Rahul, who had been on leave since February 16, is likely to address a mega Kisaan Mazdoor rally in the national capital on April 19.