Congress MLA Seeks Kharge's Nod To Chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' During Rally, BJP Questions 'Why Such Hesitation'?

Congress MLA Laxman Savadi sought permission from party president Mallikarjun Kharge before chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' at an election rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi.

Congress MLA Laxman Savadi sought permission from Mallikarjun Kharge before chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' at an election rally.

Congress landed in another political row ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after a Congress MLA took permission from the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge before chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' during an election rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Friday (April 12). During the event, Congress MLA from Athani Laxman Savadi, addressed the crowd, stating, "I hope Kharge sahab doesn't misconstrue this. I wish to say this to you all. I shall say 'Bolo Bharat Mata ki Jai' and you all have to repeat it after me with tight fists".

Following the incident, the video of Savadi's speech went viral on social media, and the Karnataka unit of the BJP quickly reacted to it.

Expressing his disappointment over Savadi's hesitation, Karnataka BJP Chief BY Vijayendra stated that the incident indicated that a large cultural divide existed within the grand old party. He further alleged that expressing patriotism and praising "Bharat Mata" was met with guilt and clarification within the Congress ranks, as opposed to BJP's unwavering commitment to nationalist ideals.

"It is rather very unfortunate and depressing to know that a senior leader like Laxman Savadi hesitates to openly raise the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' on a Congress platform in front of its national president Mallikarjun Kharge. Isn't it very pitiful and dangerous that a Congress leader trying to express his patriotism and praise "Bharat Mata" feels guilty and hence seeks to clarify his stand of raising the slogan to party chief," Vijayendra stated.

"Today's incident reinforces the fact that Savadi's attempt to prove Congress' patriotism is a very futile effort and can't compare itself to BJP, which has imbibed the nationalistic and patriotic ideals very much ingrained as part of its core culture," he added.

Savadi's actions drew criticism even from Karnataka's Leader of Opposition R Ashoka who claimed that Laxman's reluctance stemmed from witnessing Priyank Kharge advocating for those who chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans.

Slamming the Congress MLA for the incident, Ashoka wrote on his X account, "MLA Laxman Savadi, who understood the true ideology of the Congress after seeing how Minister Priyank Kharge advocated on behalf of those who shouted the slogan 'Pakistan Zindabad', was now scared whether or not he should shout the slogan 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', and asked permission from Kharge. Whatever party you are in, you don't need any top leader's permission to shout 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' Savadi ji. If they misconstrue, so be it. Bharat Mata ji Jai!"