BJP Files Complaint Against Kharge's 'Poisonous Snake' Comments, Seeks Action from Election Commission
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New Delhi, April 8 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally filed a grievance with the Election Commission regarding remarks made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who referred to the BJP as a ‘poisonous snake.’ The BJP is demanding that these offensive and derogatory statements be removed from all social media and digital platforms.
The party has requested the EC to issue a show-cause notice to Kharge for his comments made during an election rally in Assam and has called for a public apology due to the evident breach of the model code of conduct.
In a detailed seven-page complaint to the EC, the BJP outlined Kharge's objectionable remarks, which included disparaging comments about illiterate Gujaratis and an analogy comparing the BJP and the RSS to poisonous snakes. They are urging the electoral body to officially reprimand both Kharge and the Congress party.
While addressing a political rally in Nilambazar, Assam, Kharge ignited controversy as he urged attendees to 'crush' the BJP and RSS, even if it required neglecting their prayers. His remarks were made to a gathering primarily consisting of minorities, provoking strong backlash from the BJP.
Kharge stated, "If you are engaged in namaz (Islamic prayer) and a poisonous snake appears, you must stop praying and eliminate it—this is the teaching of the Quran. The RSS and the BJP represent these poisonous snakes. If you do not eliminate them, your survival is at stake," according to the BJP’s complaint to the electoral commission.
In its official complaint, the BJP accused Kharge of inciting communal discord and fostering animosity between different religious and political factions.
“The individual in question is the National President of a significant political party and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. He is not merely a fringe figure but a prominent leader of India’s main opposition party,” the complaint emphasized.
Furthermore, it stated, “Utilizing Islamic scripture to encourage Muslim voters to perceive political adversaries as enemies who must be ‘killed’ does not qualify as protected political discourse. It fundamentally undermines the constitutional principle of elections being a secular, rational, and peaceful expression of democratic choice.”