After Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 'poisonous snake' statement against PM Modi, the BJP on Monday stated that his son, Congress MLA Priyank Kharge, used offensive terms against the Prime Minister and filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Election Commission. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, along with other BJP leaders, went to the EC office in Bengaluru and lodged a complaint against Priyank Kharge.
Priyank, who is running for reelection in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections from Chittapur in Kalaburagi district, said the prime minister, despite claiming to be the son of the Banjara community, was "inept" in taking care of them because his party created confusion about reservations for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.
Addressing the public gathering, Priyank takes a jibe at PM Modi and stated: "When you (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) came to Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) what did you tell the people of Banjara community? “Aap sab log dariye mat. Banjara ka ek beta Dilli mein Baitha hai (You do no fear. A son of Banjara is sitting in Delhi.) Aisa nalayak beta baitha to kaise hota bhai? Ghar kaise chalega?” (If an inept son is sitting in Delhi, how can you run the family?)."
He further stated: "What we are saying is that he said he is the son of the Banjara community and created confusion pertaining to the reservation. Didn’t injustice happen to the Banjara community? Why were stones thrown at Yediyurappa’s house in Shikaripura (in Shivamogga district)? Why Bandh was observed in Kalaburagi and Jewargi? Today there is confusion in the reservation."
Priyank also chastised the prime minister for referring to himself as a son of the Koli, Kabbaliga, and Kuruba groups during his last tour and now referring to himself as a son of the Banjara community.
Sharing a video footage of Priyanka Kharge making the statements against PM Modi, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya stated that the Congress leader should "focus on defending his seat and not punch above his weight."
“What would Priyank Kharge be doing if he wasn’t Mallikarjun Kharge’s son? It is anybody’s guess! It is quite rich for someone, who is feeding of his father’s name, to call a democratically elected PM ‘nalayak’. It is fine to disagree with the PM, criticise him, but calling him names shows a depraved mind (sic),” Malviya tweeted.
Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge stood by his son, saying he never made those remarks for the prime minister.
“No. No. It is very wrong. He never said it. Don't put these words into his mouth. He attacked the parliament member who abused him (not Modi). So, don't put these words into his mouth (saying it was meant) for Modi. I am sorry, everywhere this is going on (misquoting) purposely. Morning he (Priyank) condemned it but still you people are asking," Kharge stated.
(With Inputs From Agencies)