Bengaluru, April 8 – The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded that the Centre should file a case against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his son, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, and send them to Tihar Jail, in response to their controversial remarks and defense of the remarks.
Speaking to the media at the State BJP office, "Jagannath Bhavan" in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, made the statement.
Narayanaswamy demanded that the Central government should take suo motu action and file a case against Mallikarjun Kharge and his son Priyank Kharge, and send them to Tihar Jail, saying that such action would deter them from making such statements.
He also mocked that given Congress President Kharge's age, he needs rest, and suggested that jail would provide him that rest, with his son Priyank Kharge accompanying him.
He said that the Congress President should keep a check on his tongue and refrain from making reckless statements.
He alleged that Kharge's mental health is not sound, adding that the Congress President's provocative remarks against the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are condemnable.
Narayanaswamy added that people across the country are cursing the Congress President, and that inciting violence or calling for killing a person is unacceptable.
He also said that the Karnataka Prevention of Hate Speech and Hate Crimes Bill has been passed, and under that law, cases can be registered against those making provocative statements like Kharge.
He added that the BJP has filed a complaint in this regard, and party workers have erupted in protest across various places condemning Kharge's remarks.
Narayanaswamy said that Kharge himself had earlier said that Razakars had attacked his family.
"However, instead of speaking against those who harmed his family, he (Kharge) is targeting the BJP and RSS."
He also criticised Kharge's son and State Minister for IT, Biotechnology and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Priyank Kharge for supporting his father's statement, saying it reflects a similar mindset.
Narayanaswamy claimed that no one from the Congress has come out in support of the Congress President, and that both Mallikarjun Kharge and his son Priyank Kharge have been sidelined within the party.
According to the BJP leader, they (Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyank Kharge) are making such hateful statements to draw attention.
He sarcastically remarked that both the father and son duo have more "venom than a poisonous snake".
He also criticised Kharge for invoking his Dalit identity, saying that one should not make irresponsible statements under the pretext of being a Dalit.
He alleged that Kharge uses the "Dalit card" when criticised by others.
He advised that as the President of a national party, Kharge should rise above caste-based remarks.
Narayanaswamy also urged Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi not to let Kharge's actions harm the Congress.
During an election rally in Assam's Sribhumi district on Monday, Kharge, citing the Quran, said if a poisonous snake is passing in front of someone, even if he is offering namaz, then he should leave the namaz and kill that poisonous snake.
"I would say that breaking the namaz does not matter. The RSS and the BJP are that poisonous snake," the Congress President had said.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday objected to statements made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of making irresponsible and caste-driven remarks.
Priyank Kharge has further defended the controversial 'poisonous snake' remarks made by his father Mallikarjun Kharge.
Addressing the media in Bengaluru, the Karnataka Minister claimed that a sense of caste privilege was deeply ingrained among the BJP leaders and attributed it to the influence of the RSS.
Priyank Kharge alleged that Chief Minister Sarma's views had changed after his association with the RSS, saying that such ideological training had shaped his statements.
Raising questions about CM Sarma's background, Priyank Kharge said that the Assam Chief Minister belonged to the Brahmin community and enjoyed social privilege, which, according to him, insulated him from criticism.
He alleged that statements made by CM Sarma against Dalits and leaders from marginalised communities did not attract adequate accountability.