New Delhi, April 7 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for his offensive comments regarding North Indians and Gujaratis, alongside his harsh critique of both the BJP and the RSS.

During a press conference on Tuesday, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad vehemently criticized the Congress leader for his blatant attempts to tarnish the reputation of Gujarati heroes, as well as questioning the integrity of patriotic organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“You lack the credentials to lead a national party and should resign based on ethical considerations,” Prasad stated, delivering a sharp rebuke.

Kharge's derogatory statements aimed at the BJP, made in the context of upcoming Assembly elections, ignited a significant political uproar when he referred to Gujaratis as “illiterates” and labeled the BJP and RSS as “poisonous snakes” that need to be eradicated.

Expressing outrage over Kharge’s comments, Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned, “Was Gandhi ji illiterate? Was Sardar Patel illiterate? Were Moraraji Desai and Vikram Sarabhai illiterate?”

He noted that Gujarat, a state known for its heroes and rich history, is being unfairly characterized as illiterate by senior Congress officials.

“Mr. Kharge, you owe an apology to the nation. We call upon the Congress president to apologize publicly for his claims that Gujaratis are illiterate,” he asserted.

He pointed out that Gujarat boasts a literacy rate of 82 percent, among the highest in the nation, which has only improved over recent decades. He also urged Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to clarify their stance on Kharge's remarks and encourage him to retract such unacceptable statements.

Prasad emphasized that Kharge's words insult the people of Gujarat and other Northern Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, questioning, “What is happening to the Congress? Do you intend to divide the nation?”

Reiterating his criticism of Kharge's comparison of the BJP and RSS to “poisonous snakes,” he accused the Congress leader of fueling communal discord by inciting minorities.

“Are you attempting to provoke the minority community against the BJP and RSS? Are you trying to incite communal tensions?” Prasad challenged.

While addressing a rally in Assam, where a considerable number of the Muslim community was present, Kharge allegedly stated that even while praying, one should eliminate poisonous snakes if found nearby, referring to the BJP and RSS as “serpents” that must be defeated.

Ravi Shankar Prasad remarked that such blatant declarations are rarely made even by Maoists and condemned Kharge's disgraceful efforts to vilify a patriotic organization like the RSS.