New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on the Congress over its President Mallikarjun Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said while on one hand the world is appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the other hand, the grand old party has been abusing him.
Addressing a rally in Navalgund Assembly constituency in poll-bound Karnataka on Friday, Amit Shah said, “World is appreciating and respecting PM Modi. But Congress party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi disrespect him. Mallikarjun Kharge called our PM a 'poisonous snake'. The party has lost its mind. They (Congress) don't know, the more they will abuse him, the more he will shine. Congress cannot win by abusing the PM.”
“On one hand, there is Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and on one hand we have our BJP party under the leadership of PM Modi. This election is to decide whether the Karnataka public wants a double-engine government (BJP) to take the stage forward or a reverse-gear government,” he said.
Further taking potshots at Congress, the Union Minister said a party that does not respect the farmers has no right to seek votes from Navalgund. “Congress has done nothing for the farmers of the state. BJP has done a lot of work for the people of Karnataka,” he said.
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, the Union Minister further said that only a member of a poor family can understand the pain of a poor person, and it is beyond the “Congress Shehzada”. “BJP has secured the safety of Karnataka people by banning PFI. Congress should answer why we should not ban PFI,” Amit Shah said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, comparing PM Modi to a poisonous snake, had said, “PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake'. You may be wondering whether think it’s poison or not. But if you lick it, you’re dead.” However, he later offered an apology for the statement.