Gwalior, June 5 (NationPress) Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia took aim at the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his improper use of the term 'langda ghoda' (meaning lame horse) to describe the older members of his party during his recent visit to Bhopal on June 3.

While not directly naming Gandhi, Scindia, formerly a member of Congress, emphasized that he refrains from using any “insulting word” for individuals with disabilities, who he views as “God gifted”. He expressed concern that some people are belittling them.

“Those with disabilities are blessed by God. Yet, some continue to belittle them, showcasing their lack of imagination,” Scindia remarked to the press in his home town Gwalior on Thursday.

Scindia reminded Gandhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced the term 'divyangjan' for persons with disabilities, which signifies “those endowed with special blessings”. He criticized Gandhi for failing to honor this terminology and instead resorting to derogatory language.

His comments came in response to Gandhi’s assertion that “Langada Ghodas should be set aside from the race, or disciplinary action would follow.”

During his single-day visit to Bhopal for the launch of the 'Organisation Creation Campaign', Gandhi employed this term while discussing the need to eliminate outdated elements and infuse new energy within the Congress party to prepare for upcoming contests in Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking to party workers at Ravindra Bhawan, he hinted at a significant restructuring of the struggling Madhya Pradesh Congress, using a metaphor to outline his rejuvenation strategy.

To critique the party’s longstanding leaders, who have held sway for years, he stated, “There are three kinds of horses: a race horse, a wedding horse, and a lame horse. The race horse goes to the race, the wedding horse to weddings, and the lame horse must retire.”

“However, they must not disturb others. If they do, disciplinary action will be taken,” he warned.

Following Gandhi's remarks, the Divyang Adhikar Mahasangh, an advocacy group based in Jaipur, formally lodged a complaint regarding his terminology. The organization reached out to the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday.