Saddened to see Rahul Gandhi can't come out of Italy: Giriraj Singh

Regarding Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's gaffe in Puducherry calling for the setting up of a separate ministry for fisheries, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the party leader is unaware that a separate ministry for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying was formed by the Prime Minister in 2019, adding that Gandhi can't come out of Italy.

Regarding Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's gaffe in Puducherry calling for the setting up of a separate ministry for fisheries, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the party leader is unaware that a separate ministry for fisheries, mal husbandry and dairying was formed by the Prime Minister in 2019, adding that Gandhi can't come out of Italy.

"I am astonished to know that a party leader is unaware of a separate ministry formed for fisheries, mal husbandry and dairying by Prime Minister in 2019 and I took oath as its minister. I am working and the work is underway in Puducherry and in other parts for the first time," Giriraj Singh who is the Minister for Fisheries, mal Husbandry & Dairying, told while responding to Rahul Gandhi's gaffe in Puducherry calling for the setting up of a separate ministry for fisheries.

"I'm saddened to see that Rahul Gandhi can't come out of Italy. In Italy, in one department there is both. He's trying to misguide farmers across the country," he said.

"Those who don't that in Indian government there is different department for this, those who don't know the difference between crops of wheat and jaw,... due to him saying such words, the country is getting defamed in front of the world," Giriraj said hitting out at the Congress leader.

After Rahul Gandhi's gaffe in Puducherry on Wednesday calling for the setting up of a separate ministry for fisheries, union ministers Giriraj Singh and Smriti Ir took to Twitter to take a swipe at the Congress leader's ignorance and attempt to "spread misinformation." Both ministers slammed the Wayanad MP and did so in Italian!

Giriraj Singh tweeted, "Caro Raul (@RahulGandhi), Non esiste un Ministero della pesca separato in Italia. Viene sotto Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali. politicheagricole.it" (There is no separate Ministry of Fisheries in Italy. It comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. http://politicheagricole.it)

The Union Textiles minister Smirti Ir posted "Sanno solo una cosa. Diffondere bugie, paura e disinformazione." (They only know one thing. Spreading lies, fear and misinformation.)Gandhi who was in Puducherry today to kickstart the Congess' election campaign addressed the fishing community and spoke about the ongoing farmers' protest.

"Government passed three Bills against farmers, the backbone of a nation. You must be wondering why am I talking about farmers at meeting of fishermen. I consider you to be farmers of the sea. If farmers of the land can have ministry in Delhi, then why is that farmers of sea don't have the same," Gandhi asked.

"The current government is attacking small and medium businesses because they want all businesses to be controlled by big corporations. Our view is different. We want to strengthen small and medium businesses because we believe that's the strength of this country," the Congress leader said.

Giriraj Singh also in a tweet in Hindi said, "Rahul ji ! You should know that on May 31, 2019, Modi ji created a new ministry. And started the Rs 20050 Cr Master Plan (PMMSY) which is several times more than the central government's expenditure from independence to 2014 (3682 cr)."

"Rahul ji! I request you to come to the new fisheries ministry or call me where I come. Let me tell you about the schemes being run by the new Fisheries Ministry all over the country and Puducherry," Singh said in another tweet.

( With inputs from ANI )