New Delhi (Sputnik): The Oxford Dictionary on Friday found itself unnecessarily dragged into a defaming exercise by an Indian opposition party chief ahead of the latest phase of the ongoing Indian parliamentary elections.
It all happened after Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi claimed there was a new word in the English dictionary — "Modilie". It seemingly referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with detractors using it to hit out at him for apparently constantly modifying the truth or putting across erroneous facts in public speeches.
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Tweeting a photoshopped screenshot of the dictionary's website, Rahul Gandhi said, "There's a new word in the English Dictionary. Attached is a snapshot of the entry:)"
There’s a new word in the English Dictionary. Attached is a snapshot of the entry:) pic.twitter.com/xdBdEUL48r
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 15, 2019
Although Gandhi did not reference the Oxford Dictionary in his text, the screenshot shared by him resembled their website.
Oxford Dictionary gave a quick rebuttal to the claim, with a tweet clarifying the image he shared was "fake" and "does not exist".
We can confirm that the image showing the entry ‘Modilie’ is fake and does not exist in any of our Oxford Dictionaries.
— Oxford Dictionaries (@OxfordWords) May 16, 2019
The Gandhi supporters retorted to defend the Congress president, accusing Modi of lying and not fulfilling his promises made in the run up to the 2014 parliamentary elections.
Superlie, Overlie, Underlie, Modilie#Modilie
— Shujath Ali Sufi — #MainBhiGandhi (@ShujathAliSufi) May 16, 2019
Once you stop telling lies about the nation, We will stop telling the truth about you Mr Chowkidar.#ChowkidarChorHai@RahulGandhi @nehasamee11 @KPadmaRani1 @BhavikaKapoor5 @khushsundar @divyaspandana https://t.co/jI9TsPBgLJ
#ModiLie is not an official word even though it should be…
Who is it more embarassing for?@RahulGandhi, who is promoting the word
— Friends of Congress (@friendscongress) May 17, 2019
OR#NaMo, who is promoting lies. https://t.co/5QEzCpssXv
Rahul Gandhi Reaction:
— mSalman🇮🇳 (@mohdsalman064) May 16, 2019
When He tweet #Modilie When oxford confirm it's Fake pic.twitter.com/iEcO0dDmyA
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Many Modi supporters also mocked and trolled Gandhi, with an Indian minister from the BJP calling him a ‘moron". Some of netizens slammed Rahul Gandhi as well.
Massive Embarrassment: Oxford Dictionaries call out Rahul Gandhi's 'Modilie' bluff, confirm it as 'fake'#ArnabOnMay23https://t.co/gpEyR7xNOM
— Republic (@republic) May 16, 2019
This moron @RahulGandhi is hell bent on proving himself that he is one of his own kind of international idiotic skill master and hence the horizons have extended beyond the boundaries. No one can prevent his growth….Amazing…!!!! https://t.co/0W7GXMHASV
— Chowkidar Anantkumar Hegde (@AnantkumarH) May 17, 2019
hahahah @RahulGandhi you wanted this pic.twitter.com/wmFyZiJkZa
— Bullet_Borayya (@BBorayya) May 16, 2019
