New Delhi: Amit Shah launched a strong attack on Mallikarjun Kharge after the Congress president compared the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to a “poisonous snake,” urging voters to respond decisively in the upcoming elections.
Addressing a public rally in Patharkandi in Assam, the Union Home Minister criticised the remarks and said the people would give a fitting reply through their votes. He pointed to the large crowd present at the rally and said the enthusiasm of party workers and supporters reflected strong public support for the BJP.
Shah also referred to the election scheduled on April 9, saying the electorate would deliver a clear message to the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi. He expressed confidence that the verdict would significantly weaken the Congress presence.
The controversy stems from comments made by Kharge while campaigning in Kerala. During his speech, the Congress leader drew a comparison between the BJP and RSS and a poisonous snake, saying that such a threat must be eliminated in order to survive.
The remarks triggered sharp reactions from BJP leaders. Party spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla accused the Congress of making inflammatory statements and alleged that the party was encouraging hostility against members of the BJP and RSS. He called the comments unacceptable and urged the Election Commission of India to take action.
Kharge has also faced criticism for another remark made during the same campaign visit in which he said voters in Kerala were educated and could not be misled unlike people in some other states.
Reacting to that statement, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, said the comment insulted the people of the state and undermined the legacy of national leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He demanded an apology from the Congress president for the remarks.
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