Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Congress president Kharge backtracks from 'poisonous snake' barb, says statement was not for PM Modi

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge backtracked from his "poisonous snake" remark that he allegedly made against PM Narendra Modi at a poll rally on Thursday. The Congress party president said that his comments were about "poisonous RSS-BJP ideology" and he had never intended to speak about any particular person, or hurt anyone. 

Talking to ANI, Kharge said, "If my statement has hurt anyone, if it was misconstrued and distressed anyone, I will express special regret for it. We have ideological differences. RSS-BJP's ideology is poisonous. But they compared it to Prime Minister and claimed that I commented about him. It was never my intention to speak about any person or hurt anyone."

Elaborating on his remark, he added, "BJP's ideology is divisive, disharmonious, full of hatred and prejudiced towards the poor and Dalits. I discussed this politics of hatred and malice. My statement was neither for PM Modi personally nor for any other person, but for the ideology he represents." 

"Our fight with PM Modi is not personal. It is an ideological battle. My intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings and if knowingly or unknowingly someone's feelings were hurt, then it was never my intention and nor has it been the conduct of my long political life," he added.

Kharge's Comment on PM Modi

Earlier in the day, the Congress President likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a poisonous snake during a poll rally at Ron in Gadag district of Karnataka. His comments drew the ire of several BJP leaders.

"...Don't make a mistake. Modi is like a poisonous snake. If you say, 'no, it's not poisonous. Let's lick it and find out.' Don't go to lick it. If you lick, you die," he said while speaking in Kannada.

"(if you think that) No, no, this is not a poison because Modi has given it, 'good man' Prime Minister has given it, let's try it and lick it'. If you lick that poison then you will sleep forever?" Kharge was quoted saying.

Several BJP ministers and leaders attacked the Congress president for his remark, saying his remarks shows the opposition party's mindset and desperation. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Twitter, "President of Congress Shri. Mallikarjun Kharge says, 'Modi is like a poisonous snake'. Shocking that Kharge ji, also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha speaks so about the PM. He is now trying to wriggle out. Hate is what is coming out. Kharge ji should apologise."

President of @INCIndia Shri. Mallikarjun Kharge says, “Modi is like a poisonous snake.”
Shocking that Kharge ji, also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha speaks so about the @PMOIndia. He is now trying to wriggle out. Hate is what is coming out. Kharge ji should apologise. https://t.co/3MJkCM1JJ1

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 27, 2023

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reacted strongly to Kharge's remarks, and said, "Those people involved in shady activities of Congress must be scared of the almighty. The more such people abuse PM Modi, the more he will get the blessings of the people."