Several users on social media took to Twitter on Saturday, to vent their ire against Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, for taking a jibe at caretaker IT Minister KT Rama Rao. Uttam Kumar reportedly said that KTR was a 'dishwasher' in the United States, before he returned to Telangana to inherit his father's party.
The Congress leader made these comments on Friday during an interaction with journalists at the Times of India office in Hyderabad.
Hitting back, KTR even took a shot at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Dear Uttam garu, I may have washed dishes in my home in the US (which by the way is what every Indian in US does in their own homes). I am proud that I’ve worked and earned a decent living on my own unlike your Pappu."
While many agreed that there was dignity of labour in washing dishes, several people, seemingly TRS supporters, began taking to social media and posting pictures of themselves washing dishes, with the hashtag, #IamADishWasher.
See some of the tweets below.
I have been living in US since 2006, and I concur with @KTRTRS sir. In US, we clean our own dishes, do laundry, change our kids diaper, clean bathrooms, kitchen, pump gas,wash car, dispose our trash - and there is no shame in that. In fact, I do the same when I visit India.
— Krishna Thirumalasetty (@IamKrishnat) September 8, 2018
Dear @UttamTPCC #IamADishWasher
— Shekar Reddy peram (@shekarperam) September 8, 2018
I support #DignityOfLabour @ktrtrs @Appireddya @trspartyonline @RaoKavitha pic.twitter.com/nrLnjZxh4r
Dear @UttamTPCC #IamADishWasher
— Appi Reddy (@Appireddya) September 8, 2018
I support #DignityOfLabour @KTRTRS pic.twitter.com/lYnDcmB13v
@UttamTPCC garu you have to say sorry and take back your words about your dish washing comment on @KTRTRS garu. There is nothing wrong in washing the dishes
— BhuvanagiriNaveen_TRS (@NKB_TRS) September 8, 2018
You have insulted all Telangana NRIs ,the Students who work while studying #IamADishwasher #DignityofLabor@RaoKavitha pic.twitter.com/cKa3BpOJhx
I am an NRI living in UK. I studied MBA, MS. I am an Entreprenaur, Social worker and Author.@UttamTPCC - I wash my own plate after my meals. So what Am I ineligible ??
— Chada Srujan Reddy (@Srujan_TRS) September 8, 2018
U have to apologise for ur dish washing comment on @KTRTRS Anna#IamADishwasher #DignityofLabor@RaoKavitha pic.twitter.com/rPYxemQTES
Even Hyderabad Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin joined the chorus.
Dear @UttamTPCC Garu
— Baba Fasiuddin (@Babafasiuddin) September 8, 2018
We are progressive not feudal like you #IamADishWasher#DignityOfLabour pic.twitter.com/KtpPgfURtX
Uttam Kumar is yet to respond to the entire issue. Meanwhile, KTR also took a dig at another senior Congress leader, Digvijaya Singh, on Friday.
Singh was responding to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's comment that Rahul Gandhi was a 'buffoon' and said, "I strongly condemn statement of KCR against Rahul ji. What an ungrateful man! Telengana was given by Congress against all odds and this man uses abusive language against Congress President. Shame on you KCR. People of Telengana should punish you for being so ungrateful. (sic)"
However, the Telangana Minister quickly pointed out that Singh did not even get the spelling of the state right.
"Firstly, learn to spell “Telangana” sir. Secondly, Telangana was not “given” by Congress. You seem to think it was your “Jaagir” (property) and the people slaves of your Delhi sultanate. The people’s movement led by KCR Ji conferred a compulsion to which your party had to yield," KTR tweeted.