The issue is not even whether the Yadavs were over-reacting to a common enough idiom.
The real issue that has been obscured in the furious sound bytes over Gadkari's 'insult' is whether our politicians have forgotten the art of good-natured jousting. Why are they reacting as if they are at the wrong end of Australian style sledging, when they could have simply given back some of what they got --
Since Lalu Yadav has said he will expect nothing less than Gadkari apologising in the old-fashioned Indian way -- by holding his ears -- and since the latter seems to be in no hurry to oblige, we thought we will pour some much-needed oil on troubled waters.
So here's a created image of Nitin Gadkari obliging Lalu Yadav. Now will everyone concerned move on?
Imaging: Ashish Narsale