Mallikarjun Kharge Likens PM Narendra Modi To 'Poisonous' Snake, BJP Responds

Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge likened PM Narendra Modi to a 'poisonous' snake during an election rally in Karnataka.

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a 'poisonous' snake, drawing the Bharatiya Janata Party's ire. Addressing a public meeting in poll-bound Karnataka's Gadag district, Kharge said that 'Modi is like a poisonous snake'.

"Don't make a mistake. Modi is like a poisonous snake. If you say, 'No, it's not poisonous. Let's lick it and find out.' Don't go to lick it. If you lick, you will die," Mallikarjun Kharge told the gathering.

#KarnatakaAssemblyElections2023 | PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', you might think it’s poison or not. If you lick it, you’re dead...: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Kalaburagi pic.twitter.com/Bqi7zVFnO9 — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023

The Congress chief, however, later told reporters that he only said the BJP was like a snake, and that the party's ideology is like a poison. 

"If you support that ideology and lick (try) it, death is certain... I did not speak against him (Modi) because I have already said that I never make personal comments," he said.

It wasn't meant for PM Modi, what I meant was BJP's ideology is 'like a snake'. I never said this personally for PM Modi, what I said was their ideology is like a snake and if you try to touch it, your death is certain: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge clarifies over his earlier… https://t.co/qBO2S0TSz5 pic.twitter.com/d32oN97zCe — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023

Kharge also took to his official Twitter account and said that his statement was neither for PM Modi nor for any other person.

"BJP's ideology is divisive, disharmonious, full of hatred and prejudiced towards the poor and Dalits. I discussed the politics of hatred and malice. My statement was neither for PM Modi nor for any other person but for the ideology he represents," he said in a series of tweets in Hindi.

He added that his fight with Prime Minister Modi is not a personal fight but an ideological battle.

"My intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings and if knowingly or unknowingly someone's feelings were hurt, then it was never my intention, nor has it been the conduct of my long political life," the Congress leader said.

… अपितु जिस विचारधारा का वो प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं, उसके लिए था।

प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी के साथ हमारी लड़ाई निजी लड़ाई नहीं है। वैचारिक लड़ाई है।

मेरा इरादा किसी की भावना आहत करने का नहीं था और अगर ज़ाने अनजाने में किसी की भावना आहत हुई तो ये मेरी मंशा कदापि नहीं थी… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 27, 2023

Kharge also said that for five decades, he has always opposed the divisive ideology of BJP and RSS and their leaders.

"My political fight will always be against their politics," he wrote.

…मैंने ग़रीबों व दलितों का दुख दर्द देखा भी है और सहा भी है।

पॉंच दशकों से भाजपा तथा RSS की विभाजनकारी विचारधारा से, उनके नेताओं से, मेरा विरोध हमेशा से रहा है।

मेरी राजनीतिक लड़ाई उनकी राजनीति के ख़िलाफ़ थी, है और हमेशा रहेगी। — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 27, 2023

BJP slams Mallikarjun Kharge for likening PM Modi to 'poisonous' snake

Several BJP leaders attacked Mallikarjun Kharge and condemned his remarks. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that 'hate is coming out' and sought the Congress president's apology.

She also dismissed Kharge's clarification that he was comparing the BJP's ideology not Modi, saying he is trying to 'wriggle out'.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the Congress president used such words to 'appease his political masters' 

#WATCH | Bengaluru: "Kharge ji used such words to appease his political masters...": Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan slams Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on his comment on PM Modi.#KarnatakaElection2023 pic.twitter.com/23I0M5L5DO — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023

Reacting to Kharge's remarks, BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya said that the Congress continues to 'plummet to new depths'. 

"Now Congress President Kharge calls Prime Minister Modi 'poisonous snake'? What started with Sonia Gandhi's 'maut ka saudagar', and we know how it ended, the Congress continues to plummet to new depths. The desperation shows Congress is losing ground in Karnataka and knows it," he said in a tweet.

Now Congress Presidnet Kharge calls Prime Minister Modi ‘poisonous snake’…

What started with Sonia Gandhi’s ‘maut ka saudagar’, and we know how it ended, the Congress continues to plummet to new depths.

The desperation shows Congress is losing ground in Karnataka and knows it. pic.twitter.com/75FECizSOW — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 27, 2023

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of engaging in 'revdi culture' in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan and said that their poll guarantees have still remained as guarantee.

"Congress means a guarantee of corruption, a guarantee of nepotism," he said while addressing tens of lakhs of BJP workers through virtual mode ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Delighted to speak to our hardworking Karyakartas from Karnataka. People trust BJP's good governance. https://t.co/UfZmHfVoR3 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 27, 2023

He added that the grand old party has reached a stage where it cannot give true guarantees. 

Alleging that Congress did not show any interest in eliminating corruption as they were the 'biggest source of corruption', PM Modi said, after 2014 there has been a speed in the fight against corruption.