'Stop Being Elitist': Sharmistha Mukherjee Slams Congress For Mocking AC Temperature Proposal

Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 00:00 IST

Congress' joke was aimed at the govt's recent guidelines encouraging citizens to keep their air conditioners set between 24°C and 25°C to help reduce energy consumption

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former president Pranab Mukherjee. (PTI file photo)

Sharmistha Mukherjee, daughter of former President Pranab Mukherjee, on Wednesday slammed the Congress party for a satirical social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Centre’s new AC temperature proposal.

The Congress shared a meme on X, showing PM Modi holding a remote control—possibly for a teleprompter—pointed towards a screen. The post was captioned: “Ghar mein ghus ke temperature set karoonga!" (I will enter your home and set the temperature). This was a satirical twist on Prime Minister’s well-known line, “Ghar mein ghus ke marenge," originally used in the context of India’s military response to Pakistan after terrorist attacks.

The Congress’s joke was aimed at the government’s recent guidelines encouraging citizens to keep their air conditioners set between 24°C and 25°C to help reduce energy consumption during peak summer months. This recommendation comes as several parts of India face record-breaking heatwaves, with temperatures in Delhi and other regions crossing 45°C.

Mukherjee, however, did not find the meme appropriate. She responded to the post, calling it elitist and insensitive, especially when a majority of Indians do not own air conditioners.

In her reply to the Congress’ post, she wrote: “Not an issue of personal choice but of environment & energy concerns. Other countries ‘ve done it & rightly so! ONE CAN VERY WELL SURVIVE BETWEEN 20-28 degrees. Majority of India don’t have ACs."

Mukherjee, who stepped away from active politics in 2019 and was formerly with the Congress, urged her former party not to be so elitist. “Being a national party, stop being so elitist. Don’t oppose 4 sake of opposition," she added.

Mukherjee’s remarks come at a time when several parts of the country are reeling under an intense heatwave. The national capital has also been sweltering, with temperatures soaring past 45 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of severe heat conditions and has issued red alerts across multiple states.

News politics 'Stop Being Elitist': Sharmistha Mukherjee Slams Congress For Mocking AC Temperature Proposal