The word lynching was practically unheard of before 2014 when the BJP came to power, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter and went on to taunt the Prime Minister with a "Thank you Modiji".

Asked about the lynching jibe at a media briefing later in the day, the former Congress president said, "Sarkar ki dalali mat karo (Don't do mediation for the BJP)." Gandhi, who appeared to lose his cool, responded after reporters asked him about the BJP's attack on his tweet. "Before 2014, the word 'lynching' was practically unheard of. #ThankYouModiJi," Gandhi's tweet said.