New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday took strong objection over the language used by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against party chief Mallikarjun Kharge dubbing him as “madman” and dubbed it as an insult to entire Dalit community and also demanded his apology.
Earlier in the day Kharge addressing a press conference had responded to a question over the Assam Police searches at the residence of party leader Pawan Khera in the national capital, and said all agencies are under the central government, which should probe the charges.
“They have already filed an FIR against Khera. Let them probe the matter. We will face the case as it progresses. We have sought probes by ED or CBI into the allegations,” Kharge said.
Responding to Kharge’s comments, Sarma said that he (Kharge) was ‘speaking like a madman’ due to old age’, after the latter put the onus on central agencies to probe the charges.
The Chief Minister asserted that Khera had “run away” to Hyderabad, but the Assam Police will “hunt him down even from ‘pataal’ (netherworld)”.
Reacting strongly to Sarma’s comments, Congress General Secretary and Communications incharge Jairam Ramesh in a post on X said, “It is well known that the outgoing Assam CM knows no dignity or restraint in language, leave alone action. His abuse of Mallikarjun Kharge ji – the Congress President and a most powerful symbol of social empowerment made possible by the Constitution of India – is disgraceful beyond any limit and reveals not only his mental sickness but also the dalit-virodhi mindset of the BJP.
“What the outgoing Assam CM has said about Shri Rahul Gandhi is also most despicable. They deserve the utmost condemnation,” the Congress leader said.
Even Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a strong objection of the objectionable language used by his Assam counterpart and said that it is an insult to entire Dalit community.
In a post on X, he said, “Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma insulting Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, one of the tallest Dalit leaders, in such derogatory terms is not just an attack on an individual – it is an insult to the entire Dalit community.
“Such remarks reflect a deeply regressive mindset – rooted in the BJP-RSS’s Manuvadi thought and bigotry. It appears he has lost his balance – driven by fear of defeat in the upcoming elections and the prospect of facing jail in corruption cases, as made clear by Rahul Gandhi,” he said.
“Himanta Biswa must issue an unconditional apology to the nation and the Dalit community. Also, why is Narendra Modi silent? Silence in the face of such insult is complicity,” the Karnataka Chief Minister added.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal also slammed Sarma and said that language used by him for Kharge is deeply problematic and shows how flabbergasted he is and also demanded his apology.
In a post on X, Venugopal said “Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma asking “Kaun hai Kharge?” and using street insults like “paagal” is deeply problematic and show how flabbergasted he is.”
The Congress leader said that Himanta must apologise for this deplorable conduct, for insulting one of the tallest leaders in our country who hails from the most humble backgrounds.
“We all know how rattled he is because of the grave corruption allegations against him, and how he leaves no stone unturned to use the most pathetic language to spread hatred,” he said, adding that it is this mindset that we reject and we demand an unconditional apology from him for this statement.
The war of words between the two party leaders (Congress and BJP) came at a time when they have locked horns over an Assam Police team arriving at lKhera’s Delhi residence for questioning in relation to a case linked to allegations made against Sarma and his family earlier in the day.
