Pawan Khera is an Indian politician, public speaker, and social activist who was appointed as the national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress in 2021. In February 2023, he stoked controversy by mocking the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during a press conference in New Delhi by referring to him as “Narendra Gautamdas Modi,” instead of “Narendra Damodardas Modi.”
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Pawan Khera was born on Wednesday, 31 July 1968 (age 55 years; as of 2023) in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. His zodiac sign is Leo. Pawan completed his graduation from Delhi University.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
There is not much information about Pawan’s family. His younger sister, Rupam Khera, succumbed to death on 22 May 2021, after fighting Covid-19.
Pawan Khera’s father with Indian politician Rajiv Gandhi
Pawan Khera’s mother
Pawan Khera’s sister, Rupam Khera
Wife & Children
Pawan’s wife, Dr Kota Neelima, is an Indian author and politician who was appointed as the general secretary of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) in December 2022.
Priya MalikPawan Khera’s wife, Dr Kota Neelima
Signature/Autograph
Signature of Pawan Khera
Career
In the 1980s, before joining politics, Pawan worked as a journalist. In 1989, Pawan joined the youth wing of the Indian National Congress. However, in 1991, he left the Congress party after the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Later, Pawan was immensely inspired by the political philosophy of the Indian politician Sheila Dikshit, who served as the longest-serving chief minister of Delhi for three consecutive terms, 1998, 2003, and 2008. Consequently, in 1998, Pawan again joined the Indian National Congress and became the secretary of Sheila Dikshit. While serving as the personal secretary to Sheila, Pawan learned the functionalities of politics. In 2013, Sheila Dikshit lost the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and consequently, Pawan’s tenure as the secretary came to an end. Since 2015, Pawan has appeared on various television news channels to represent the Congress party in various debates and political discussions. Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Pawan was appointed as the convenor of a poll committee of the party. In 2021, Pawan was appointed as the national spokesperson of the Indian National Congress. Pawan, who is known for his vocal skills, has often publicly criticized the policies and political decisions of the Bharatiya Janata Party. On 18 June 2022, Pawan was chosen as the chairman of the Media & Publicity Department of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
Controversy
Arrested for mocking the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi
On 23 February 2023, Pawan was detained by the Assam police from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, after an FIR was filed against him for allegedly passing derogatory remarks about the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at a press conference in New Delhi. The conference was called to demand an investigation by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) against the industrialist Gautam Adani and the Adani Group for their alleged connection in the stock manipulation. During the meeting, while accusing Narendra Modi of supporting Gautam Adani, he referred to Narendra Modi as “Narendra Gautamdas Modi,” instead of “Narendra Damodardas Modi” wherein the middle name is of his father. He said,
If Narasimha Rao could form a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee), if Atal Bihari Vajpayee could form a JPC, then what problem does Narendra Gautam Das…sorry Damodardas…Modi have?”
Consequently, on 15 February 2023, Samuel Changsan, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, filed an FIR against Pawan Khera at the Haflong Police Station, Dima Hasao, under IPC Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 153 A, 153 B (1) (promoting enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, etc.), 500 (defamation), 504 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 505 (1) (2) (statements conducing to public mischief). In addition to this, complaints were also registered against Pawan in Uttar Pradesh. Pawan, who was deplaned from IndiGo flight 6E 204, was supposed to attend an All India Congress Committee (AICC) plenary session in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. On 17 February 2023, Pawan posted on Twitter and stated that he got confused with the middle name of the prime minister and said,
I genuinely got confused whether it is Damodardas or Gautam Das…”
On 23 February 2023, while Pawan was asked to deplane, his supporters gathered and held a protest at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, and raised slogans in support of him saying “Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi.” While addressing the reporters, Pawan apologized for his mistake and referred to the incident as a “slip of the tongue.” Talking about how he was asked to deplane from the flight, Pawan said,
I was told they wanted to see my luggage. I said I don’t have anything except a handbag. When I came down from the aircraft, I was told I can’t go and DCP will come. I don’t know why I am being stopped.”
Pawan Khera and his supporters while protesting at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, after Pawan was deplaned from the IndiGo flight
Addressing Narendra Modi as the “Father of Hypocrisy”
On 15 February 2023, Pawan Khera addressed Narendra Modi as the Father of Hypocrisy after the Income Tax Department raided the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai. Reportedly, the unexpected raids were made after the BBC aired the two-part documentary, “India: The Modi Question,” which was about Narendra Modi’s political career, his alleged involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots, and his relationship with the Muslim minority in India. The screening of the documentary was banned by the Government of India, citing it as “hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage.” The snippets of the videos, shared by users, were blocked from multiple social media platforms including YouTube and Twitter. In an interview, Pawan alleged that Modi tried to suppress the freedom of the media, who came out with the truth about the prime minister and said,
Prime Minister Modi has received several awards from foreign entities and has publicly touted these. But when some foreign entities criticised him, they were raided or termed “anti-national.” When Prime Minister Modi’s past is exposed by the BBC, then he uses investigation agencies as his ‘frontal organisations’ to raid an international media outlet. This year, it is India’s turn to host the G20, which is a big event, and “what image of India is Modi ji presenting to the world with this raid?” By giving the slogan of ‘Mother of Democracy’, he himself has become the ‘father of hypocrisy.’
Facts/Trivia
- Pawan Khera is occasionally spotted smoking hookah.
Pawan Khera while smoking hookah
- In 2022, Pawan actively took part in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, initiated by the Indian politician Rahul Gandhi.
Pawan Khera (extreme right) with the Indian politician Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kerala
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Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn