Karnataka Elections 2023: The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) on Friday urged the Election Commission to register an FIR against Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge while also debaring him from the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections over his 'poisonous snake' comment over Prime Minister Narenadra Modi.
Meanwhile, training guns on the Congress over its President Mallikarjun Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the party and its leaders have lost their mind. Noting that Modi is welcomed across the world with a lot of respect, he said the Congress cannot instigate people with such statements, because the support for the Prime Minister will increase, as much as they abuse him.
Earlier in the day, the BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lashed out at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his 'poisonous snake' jibe at PM Modi. Slamming Kharge, Vaishnaw said that the veteran leader's remark is the reflection of Congress' 'cultural and mindset'. Speaking to reporters, the railway minister said the Congress has never refrained from launching personal attacks on Modi, noting that its former president Sonia Gandhi had once called him 'maut ka saudagar'.
What had happened?
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge stirred a hornet's nest after he called Prime Minister 'a poisonous snake.' Kharge, however, later clarified his statement but he had by then provided the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enough ammunition to face severe backlash.
While addressing a rally in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, the Congress chief said, "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', you might think it’s poison or not. If you lick it, you’re dead..." The poll-bound state is scheduled for elections on May 10 and counting will be held on May 13.'
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