Mallikarjun Kharge Compares PM Narendra Modi to a 'Venomous' Snake, BJP Retorts.

During a public gathering in the Gadag district of poll-bound Karnataka, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge drew the ire of the Bharatiya Janata Party by comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a 'venomous' snake. Kharge warned the audience not to make the mistake of underestimating the PM, saying "Modi is like a poisonous snake. If you say, 'No, it's not poisonous. Let's lick it and find out.' Don't go to lick it. If you lick, you will die."

 

After drawing flak for his comparison of the BJP to a snake, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge clarified his statement to reporters. Kharge claimed that he did not specifically refer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the snake, but rather likened the party's ideology to a poison. He cautioned that those who support the BJP's poisonous ideology are at risk of succumbing to it, saying "If you support that ideology and lick (try) it, death is certain." Kharge also reiterated that he avoids making personal comments, indicating that he did not intend to target Modi specifically.

 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge further clarified his earlier statement on the social media platform Twitter, explaining that his comments were not aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any specific individual. Kharge asserted that his remarks were directed towards the BJP's ideology, which he described as "divisive, disharmonious, full of hatred and prejudiced towards the poor and Dalits." He emphasized that his focus was on the politics of hatred and malice, rather than any individual leader. In a series of Hindi tweets, Kharge stated, "My statement was neither for PM Modi nor for any other person but for the ideology he represents."

 

He also reiterated that his criticism of the BJP's ideology, and by extension, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was not a personal attack. Kharge clarified that his statements were aimed at the ideological battle he was fighting, rather than any individual. He expressed that he had no intention of hurting anyone's feelings and if his remarks had caused any unintentional offense, he apologized. Kharge stated, "My intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings and if knowingly or unknowingly someone's feelings were hurt, then it was never my intention, nor has it been the conduct of my long political life."

 

In addition, Kharge declared that he has been consistently opposed to the divisive ideology of the BJP, RSS, and their leaders for the past fifty years. He stated that his political battle will always be directed against their politics.

 

After Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial statement, a number of BJP leaders criticized his comments and censured him for his remarks. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused Kharge of spreading hate and demanded an apology from the Congress President. Sitharaman also dismissed Kharge's clarification that his statement was aimed at the BJP's ideology rather than Narendra Modi, alleging that he was attempting to 'wriggle out' of the situation. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan claimed that Kharge had used inflammatory language to please his political masters.