BJP trying to misuse my 'Ravan' remarks: Kharge

December 03, 2022 10:53

Facing flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party over his "Ravan" jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the ruling party of misusing his remarks for electoral gains in Gujarat, and said that politics is not about individuals but policies.

In his first reaction over the controversy, Kharge told PTI that he believes in "performance politics", but the BJP's style of politics often lacks the spirit of democracy as "they make it about one person only, who is everywhere".

On the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) prospects in the ongoing Gujarat elections, he alleged that it was working at somebody's behest "to divide the Congress's votes."

Asked whether personal attacks, such as his own "Ravan" jibe, have become a key feature of the campaign, Kharge said, "They are misusing it for electoral gains."

"For us, politics is not about individuals. It is about policies, it is about their (BJP's) performance, and it is about the type of politics they practice. They make it about only one person, who is everywhere," the veteran Congress leader said.

"The BJP's and PM's style of politics often lacks the spirit of democracy. I gave so many instances regarding his style of campaigning at all levels of elections, but they are misusing my remark for electoral gains," Kharge said.

"I don't comment on any individual or make personal remarks because I also have experience of parliamentary politics for 51 years. I criticised (the BJP government) on the issues of development, inflation, unemployment, poverty," he said.

Speaking at a rally in Ahmedabad earlier this week, Kharge had said PM Modi asks people to vote "looking at his face" in all elections. "Are you 100-headed like Ravan?" he had said.

The BJP seized on the comment, calling it an insult to every Gujarati.

Speaking about the prime minister's whirlwind campaign in Gujarat, Kharge said it reflects badly on the BJP government's performance in the state.

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