New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge became the central point for BJP’s attack after he allegedly called PM Narendra Modi a ‘poisonous snake’ in a public meeting. Kharge penned a long note on Twitter and issued a clarification that his intention was not to target any particular person but he was commenting on BJP and RSS’ ideology. He even took an apologetic stand and cleared up what was his intention.
Taking to Twitter, Kharge called BJP’s ideology ‘divisive, hostile and full of hatred’ towards the poor and Dalits and added that he was discussing the same and his statement was neither for PM Modi nor for any other person. He mentioned that his fight against PM Modi is not personal but an ideological battle.
… अपितु जिस विचारधारा का वो प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं, उसके लिए था।
प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी के साथ हमारी लड़ाई निजी लड़ाई नहीं है। वैचारिक लड़ाई है।
मेरा इरादा किसी की भावना आहत करने का नहीं था और अगर ज़ाने अनजाने में किसी की भावना आहत हुई तो ये मेरी मंशा कदापि नहीं थी…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 27, 2023
Being apologetic for his statement, the Congress leader wrote that his intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings and if unwillingly he hurt someone’s feelings, then it was neither the intention nor has it been his political conduct. He added that he always followed the ‘norms and traditions of political correctness’ and does not make fun of individuals and their problems like people in ‘higher positions’ do.
He reiterated that for five decades, he has been opposing the ideology of BJP and RSS and will continue to do so.
…मैंने ग़रीबों व दलितों का दुख दर्द देखा भी है और सहा भी है।
पॉंच दशकों से भाजपा तथा RSS की विभाजनकारी विचारधारा से, उनके नेताओं से, मेरा विरोध हमेशा से रहा है।
मेरी राजनीतिक लड़ाई उनकी राजनीति के ख़िलाफ़ थी, है और हमेशा रहेगी।
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 27, 2023
While talking to the press also, Kharge cleared that his remarks were not personal, but he was comparing their ideology to a snake.
His statement faced a huge backlash from BJP as leaders including Union Ministers Anurag Thakur, Nityanand Rai and Smriti Irani asked for an apology. BJP targeted Congress over such statements in the past and called it a culture. Anurag Thakur even called it a worse statement than that made by Sonia Gandhi in the past.
#KarnatakaAssemblyElections2023 | PM Modi is like a ‘poisonous snake’, you might think it’s poison or not. If you lick it, you’re dead…: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Kalaburagi pic.twitter.com/Bqi7zVFnO9
— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023
The Kharge saga happened amid campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka. The Karnataka Assembly Elections will be held on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.
