Patna, April 9 The Bihar unit of the Congress staged a protest on Thursday against "objectionable remarks" made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against the party's national president, Mallikarjun Kharge.
Congress leaders also burned an effigy of Sarma outside the party's headquarters in Patna.
Congress leader Pawan Khera had on Sunday alleged that Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, possesses multiple passports and foreign properties, which were not declared in the Assam chief minister's election affidavit. Sarma had retaliated, claiming that Kharge was "speaking like a madman" due to old age, after the latter had put the onus on central agencies to investigate the charges.
Speaking to reporters here, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram said, "The insult to Kharge is not merely an affront to an individual but also hurts the sentiments of crores of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes."
He described the language used by Sarma as "unfortunate, condemnable, and against democratic norms," and demanded that the Assam CM issue a public apology.
"Kharge, an eight-time MP, is a Dalit leader who rose through the ranks in Congress to become AICC president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. The RSS, BJP, and leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma feel uneasy with this fact and have never held positive views towards Dalits," Ram said.
He warned that Congress would intensify its agitation "from the streets to the legislature" if the statement was not withdrawn.
"Dalits across the nation see Sarma's statement as a breach of their constitutional rights," he added.