Sat Sep 20 14:31:37 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
BJP leader Smriti Irani spoke at NDTV Yuva’s Mumbai edition, reflecting on her political journey and critiquing the opposition. She defended the democratic process against claims of “vote theft” and suggested the Congress party suffers from “relief of missing out” rather than her experiencing FOMO from leaving Parliament. Irani, who lost her seat to Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma in the recent elections, emphasized her continued desire to work for the country. The NDTV Yuva event also featured other political figures, cultural icons, and entrepreneurs.
**News Article:**
**Smriti Irani Defends Democracy, Takes Jabs at Congress at NDTV Yuva Mumbai**
Mumbai – Former Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani addressed a youth-dominated audience at NDTV Yuva’s Mumbai edition on Saturday, delivering remarks on politics, democracy, and her party’s rivals. Reflecting on her political career, Ms. Irani, who famously unseated Rahul Gandhi in 2019 only to lose the seat to Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma in the recent general elections, reiterated her commitment to serving the nation.
When questioned about missing parliamentary life, Ms. Irani dismissed the notion, stating she experiences no “fear of missing out” (FOMO). Instead, she argued it was the Congress party that felt a “relief of missing out” (ROMO).
Ms. Irani strongly defended the integrity of Indian democracy, responding to the opposition’s frequent allegations of “vote theft.” “When I hear the word ‘vote chori’, I think it is an insult to the Indian democracy because it is an attack mounted by the Opposition when it has failed to win the trust of voters,” she asserted.
NDTV Yuva’s Mumbai event featured a diverse array of speakers including Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora, BRS leader KT Rama Rao, and BJP leader Poonam Mahajan, along with prominent figures from the entertainment and sports industries. The event aimed to connect with and engage young minds on a variety of important issues.
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