Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge “dog” remarks triggered a political furore in Parliament with the ruling BJP demanding an apology from his party.
Kharge had yesterday said that the Congress had sacrificed many in the freedom movement but the BJP had lost no one in the struggle.
Slamming the Congress chief, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said that his remarks were “distasteful and unfortunate”.
“I can’t believe that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge could stoop so low anduse such objectionable remarks. He should understand his responsibilities as a leader of a political party. We’re not enemies, we are rivals. It’s distasteful, unfortunate and uncalled for,” Rijiju said.
What Mallikarjun Kharge had said?
Speaking at a public meeting in Rajasthan’s Alwar on the sidelines of Bharat Jodo Yatra on Monday, Kharge had said that the Congress got the country Independence, and several of our leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, gave sacrifices.
“Has even your dog at home died for the country? Still they claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals),” the Congress chief had said.
Political furore over Kharge’s remarks
Hitting out at Kharge, Union minister Piyush Goyal said that the language used by him is unfortunate.
“I condemn the manner in which he used indecent language, said baseless things and attempted to present lies before nation. I demand apology from him. He should apologise to the BJP, the Parliament and the people of this country who formed the BJP government with an absolute majority. He (Kharge) gave us a glimpse of his mindset and jealousy,” he said in Parliament.
“After independence, Mahatma Gandhi said that Congress should be disbanded. Kharge ji is living example of that and is showing the nation that what Gandhi ji said was true and he is a national president who doesn’t know to speak,” he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi also condemned the statement made by the Congress president. “It’s an Italian Congress which is running today. It is being said that he is a rubber stamp president. Their mindset is like this only. They have said such type of things for Veer Savarkar and Smriti Irani also. I thought Mallikarjun Kharge has some common sense but it has been proven today that he doesn’t have,” he said.
Mallikarjun Kharge remains defiant
Kharge, however, remained defiant on his remark even after facing immense backlash and said that he will not apologise for it.
“What I said during Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan’s Alwar was outside the House. What I said was politically outside the House, not inside. There is no need to discuss that here. Secondly, I can still say that they had no role in the freedom struggle,” Kharge, who is also Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said.
“If I repeat what I said outside, it willll get difficult for them. ‘Maafi maangne waale log’ are asking people who fought the freedom struggle to apologise…I said Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed themselves. Who among you gave your life for unity of this country?” he reiterated.
