A controversy has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party after the BJP accused Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and former President Ram Nath Kovind. The BJP is demanding a public apology from Kharge and the Congress party, while the Congress has dismissed the charges as "rubbish".
The BJP's accusations stem from a public rally in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, where Kharge reportedly mispronounced the names of President Murmu and former President Kovind, although he quickly corrected himself. More significantly, the BJP alleges that Kharge used "objectionable" words against the President, referring to her as "Murma ji" and implying she was a "land mafia". According to the BJP, Kharge questioned whether the BJP appointed Murmu and Kovind to these high positions "to snatch our assets, forests, water, and land".
BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Kharge, accusing him of having an "anti-Dalit, anti-Adivasi, and anti-Constitution" mindset. Bhatia stated that Kharge did not use respectful language when referring to President Murmu, failing to use honorifics like "Adarniya" or "Mananiya" and not even adding "ji" after her name. Bhatia also accused Kharge of calling former President Kovind "Covid". He further asserted that Kharge's remarks insulted not only the President and former President but also hurt the sentiments of the Adivasi and Dalit communities. The BJP has demanded a written apology from Kharge and has even called for his resignation as Congress President. Bhatia has also held Rahul Gandhi accountable for the statements made by party colleagues. The BJP has also stated that the remarks reflect the deep-seated hatred Congress has for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The Congress party has defended Kharge's remarks. While specific responses from Kharge or other Congress leaders were not immediately available, Congress leader Pawan Khera has accused the BJP of hypocrisy, arguing that they use tribal representation as a symbol while allegedly stripping indigenous communities of their resources.
Several BJP leaders have weighed in on the controversy. BJP National Spokesperson C.R. Kesavan called Kharge's remarks a "venomous and diabolical" attack and said that for the Congress party, only dynastic welfare has always been the top priority, not Dalit welfare. Another BJP spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, said that Kharge's comments reflect the deep-seated hatred Congress has for the SC and ST community.
The BJP has also drawn attention to past instances where Congress leaders have allegedly disrespected members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including referring to President Murmu as "Rashtrapatni" and Udit Raj stating that no country should get a President like Droupadi Murmu. The BJP has presented these instances as evidence of a pattern of disrespect within the Congress party. They also referenced a past incident where Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury issued a written apology for a similar remark against President Murmu.
The controversy has intensified with the BJP alleging that Kharge's remarks were made at the behest of Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress President of being "remote-controlled" by the Gandhi family. The BJP has stated that the entire Adivasi and Dalit community is condemning Kharge and the Congress.
