The BJP wrote a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka Election Comission accusing Priyank Kharge of uttering a false statement
Published May 01, 2023 | 7:02 PM ⚊ Updated May 01, 2023 | 7:02 PM
JP Nadda, Priyank Kharge.
With only a little over one week left for the polling for the Karnataka elections, the BJP and the Congress are attacking each other with various remarks and counter-remarks.
The election campaigning by both parties has seen several instances of name-calling of each others’ leaders.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a poisonous snake” and later clarified — after attracting criticism from the BJP — that he meant the political ideology of the prime minister and that he never insults any person.
Following the incident, Karnataka BJP MLA and former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal likened ex-AICC chief Sonia Gandhi to a “vishkanya” (poisonous maiden), which led to the calls for the expulsion of the leader by the Congress.
Congress leader and former Minister Priyank Kharge, son of Mallikarjun Kharge, described Prime Minister Modi as “nalayak” (incompetent) at a poll event days after his father Mallikarjun Kharge’s “venomous snake” barb, on Monday, 1 May.
The BJP immediately hit back at the Congress, with ruling party president JP Nadda saying Opposition leaders have been using such language against the prime minister to “please” their masters, a reference to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to reporters, Nadda said the Congress is going through “mental bankruptcy” and its leaders have been following the Gandhi family in using derogatory language against the prime minister.
“They are doing so to please their senior leaders.”
The BJP president claimed the Congress has already lost the election in the southern state and that is why “venom” is coming out from its leaders who are “in frustration”.
People do not approve of such language and their love for the prime minister has been growing, he said.
Priyank, who is seeking re-election from Chittapur in the Kalaburagi district in the 10 May Assembly polls, said the prime minister was “nalayak” because he and his party had “created confusion” about reservations for the Banjara community.
“When you (Prime Minister 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 not be afraid. A son of the Banjara is sitting in Delhi.),” said Priyank quoting from Modi’s speech.
“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 asked, addressing the people.
He went on to say, “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 was Bandh observed in Kalaburagi and Jewargi? Today there is confusion over the reservation.”
Priyank, who was a minister in the Siddaramaiah government, said, “The prime minister during his earlier visit said he was a son of the Koli community and the Kabbaliga and Kuruba communities. Today he calls himself a son of the Banjara community.”
BJP IT Wing head Amit Malviya took a swipe at Priyank Kharge, asking what would he be doing if he was not the son of Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president?
“It is anybody’s guess! It is quite rich for someone who is feeding off his father’s name, to call a democratically elected PM ‘nalayak’. It is fine to disagree with the PM, and criticise him, but calling him names shows a depraved mind. Junior Kharge should focus on defending his seat and not punch above his weight,” he tweeted.
At the fag end of its term, the BJP government passed a bill to increase the reservation for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) from 15 percent to 17 percent. The government said the internal reservation of SC (Left) now stood at six percent, SC (Right) at 5.5 percent, and other SCs at 5.5 percent.
Mallikarjun Kharge, meanwhile, came to the defence of his son, saying he never made those comments.
“No. No. It is very wrong. He never said it. 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,” the Congress president said.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: “In a state of despair over losing the election, he (Priyank) has forgotten his limits. A few days ago, his father withdrew his words. Now, it’s his turn. People will teach them a lesson”.
The BJP on Monday wrote a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka Election Comission accusing Priyank Kharge of “uttering as false, unverified and personal attacking statement” against Prime Minister Modi.
“Priyank Kharge being a responsible person, an MLA knowing fully well that personal attack or character attack is impermissible under law and voilative of model code of conduct has made this statement. This fact also shows that the Congress leaders have no respect towards law of this land. Calling the PM Naalayak is highly vulnerable,” said the party in the complaint.
The BJP also alleged that Kharge has, through the statement. violated the mode of conduct and that the Congress leaders have “no respect to the laws of this land”.
The saffron party requested the commission to take action against Priyank Kharge and to bar him from campaigning for the Congress.
(With PTI inputs)
