Congress MP Rahul Gandhi  courted controversy as he took a veiled jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, saying he "saw people lying on the road after drinking alcohol". Addressing a rally in his former constituency Amethi during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the "future of Uttar Pradesh is dancing" with people drinking alcohol at night. "On the other side, there is the Ram Temple in which PM Modi will be seen and Ambani and Adani will be seen. You will see all the billionaires of India but not a single backward or Dalit person will be seen," he added. In response, Union Minister and BJP MP from Amethi, Smriti Irani, slammed Rahul Gandhi for his "objectionable" remarks and questioned his upbringing. "Rahul Gandhi's remarks show how much venom he has in his mind for Uttar Pradesh. He made objectionable comments against the voters of Uttar Pradesh in Wayanad. He rejected the invitation to the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram Temple. He has made objectionable remarks about Varanasi and the young people of Uttar Pradesh," she said."Congress's future is in darkness, but Uttar Pradesh's future is moving towards development. It is my advice to Sonia Gandhi that if she cannot give a good upbringing to her son, then at least ask him not to comment," Irani further said. Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Pratap Singh also criticised Rahul Gandhi's remarks and demanded he should apologise to the country. "It is saddening to hear such statements when efforts are being made by the Centre to take the Indian culture to the world. Our culture does not allow public drinking. I can say that no one in my family consumes alcohol in public, but can Rahul Gandhi say this? He should apologise for such remarks," he told news agency ANI.