New Delhi/Gandhinagar, April 8 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday accused the Congress party of engaging in "tukde-tukde gang" politics, as members of the Gujarati community organized a protest in Delhi against comments made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The demonstration took place outside the Congress national headquarters, with a large turnout of protesters chanting slogans and seeking a public apology from senior leaders.

This protest was a response to the political uproar sparked by Kharge's remarks during a recent election rally in Kerala.

While addressing a rally in Idukki, Kharge stated, "Don’t mislead the people of Kerala. They are astute, they are educated… you might deceive those who are uneducated in Gujarat or other regions, but you cannot deceive the people of Kerala."

This statement was met with severe backlash from BJP leaders, who labeled it as "derogatory" towards Gujaratis.

In response to the controversy, BJP state co-spokesperson and Valsad MP Dhaval Patel remarked that the comments had incited widespread anger.

“Recently, the Congress president made a statement implying that Gujaratis are illiterate and foolish. Consequently, Gujaratis across the state and the nation are outraged,” he stated.

Furthermore, he mentioned that protests have been occurring throughout Gujarat and noted, “Today, we also organized a protest in Delhi outside the Congress headquarters, which saw participation from thousands.”

Patel accused the Congress of engaging in a pattern of divisive politics.

“This is a part of the tukde tukde gang politics of the Congress. They are attempting to fragment the nation by targeting various states, be it Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, or now Gujarat. However, Gujaratis will not succumb to this divide-and-rule strategy,” he asserted.

Patel also referenced prior remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

“In the past, Rahul Gandhi accused the state and its people, claiming that all Gujaratis are involved in scams,” he mentioned.

He also highlighted comments made during the Uttar Pradesh elections, where both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav labeled Gujaratis as "donkeys".

He additionally pointed out that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra had recently remarked that Gujaratis did not take part in the independence movement.

“This reflects the animosity and the kind of venom that exists within the Congress and the opposition towards Gujarat,” Patel stated.

He emphasized that the people of Gujarat have consistently supported Narendra Modi over the decades, attributing these remarks to political frustration.

“For the past 30 years, the people have elected Modi as their Chief Minister, and then as the Prime Minister. The Congress party is frustrated by this. The people of Gujarat will not tolerate such comments,” he expressed.

Highlighting the contributions of the state, Patel stated that Gujaratis have made significant impacts across various sectors.

“From the independence movement, with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, to their roles in politics, sports, and cinema, Gujaratis have contributed to the nation in every domain,” he reiterated.

He concluded by stating that the protests would persist until an apology is rendered.

“Until Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi publicly apologize, these protests will continue,” Patel stressed.

In light of the backlash, Kharge later expressed his regret, clarifying that his comments had been misinterpreted and that it was never his intention to offend.