BS Yediyurappa, a Bharatiya Janata Party leader, condemned Mallikarjun Kharge’s “poisonous snake” remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and demanded an apology from the Congress President.
This comes after Kharge said on Thursday at an election rally in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi, “PM Modi is like a ‘poisonous snake,’ you might think it’s poison or not.” You’ll die if you lick it.” However, Kharge later clarified that what he meant to say was that the BJP’s ideology is as dangerous as a snake and that he did not intend to make a personal attack on PM Modi.
Yediyurappa said, “I never expected the Congress President to make such a statement. He should apologise for it. People will not forget this.”
Against the backdrop of the high-decibel campaign for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, Kharge’s remark drew a sharp response from the BJP, which slammed the “slanderous” statement, saying it reflected the “mentality” of the state’s main opposition party.
Kharge clarified his remark on Thursday, saying, “BJP’s ideology is divisive, hostile, and full of hatred and prejudice against the poor and Dalits.” I spoke about the politics of hatred and malice. My statement was not directed at PM Modi or any other individual.”