Growing the pile of controversies further, Mallikarjun Kharge doesn’t seem to stop with his inappropriate comments about Prime Minister Modi. While addressing a rally at Karnataka’s Kallburgi he cited examples of how political discourse was touching rock bottom during the elections. It is ironic that out of everyone it is Kharge who is talking about political discourse reaching “rock bottom”. In the rally he has challenged PM Modi to hang himself if the Congress crosses the 40 seat mark which it achieved in 2014 general elections.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress in Kalaburagi: Wherever he goes, Modi keeps saying that Congress will not win 40 seats. Do you believe that? If Congress gets more than 40 seats, will Modi hang himself at Delhi's Vijay Chowk? pic.twitter.com/ti3uPIYqlV
— ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2019
The Prime Minister has often referred in his campaign speeches to the Congress’s all-time low tally of 44 seats in 2014, when it was decimated in the BJP landslide. He has declared that this time, the party will score even less. In this regard, while addressing a rally in support of Congress candidate Subash Rathod, Kharge said, “Wherever (Modi) goes, (he) says Congress will not get 40 seats (in Lok Sabha polls). Do any of you agree with this? If we get 40 seats, will Modi hang himself at Vijay Chowk in Delhi?” He faced back lash by senior BJP leaders who were filled with agony over the remark made for the Prime Minister. The anger is valid as Kharge being one of the senior most leaders of the Congress party is displaying a lack of integrity that is simply unacceptable.
Senior BJP leader and lawmaker Shobha Karandlaje has demanded Mr Kharge’s apology, she said that she never expected such low remarks from a senior leader like him. She said, “Blatant lies, fake allegations, derogatory remarks have become common with hollow Congress, nothing progressive! He should apologise!” Last week PM Modi took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi by calling the former PM Rajiv Gandhi as “corrupt no 1” and had a proper justification for his comment. Kharge on this comment of the PM had called him “uncultured” he had said that PM Modi lacked “sanskar” and attacked on PM Modi’s personal life. A senior Rajya Sabha member, Narendra Jhadhav sent a letter to Kharge asking his apology for making such demeaning and derogatory remarks on the Prime Minister of the country.
It is evident that the Congress is not ready to learn from the continuous and blatant mistakes. It has stooped to a new low by attacking the Prime Minister of the country with disgusting comments. It is true that Congress and its victory is a distant dream, given the fact that it is using attacks on PM to get political leverage in the elections. Congress is not aiming for a majority because it is aware that crossing its previous mark of 40 seats its self is impossible in this election. It is but trying to achieve a moral victory to compensate for political loss. As despicable as the remark made by Kharge is, it betrays the reality of Congress’ expectations. Congress has dug its own grave as the party will fail to win even 40 seats, leave alone forming a majority in the parliament. Indeed, Kharge is right, the political discourse has touched its rock bottom, but who is responsible for it is none other than his Congress Party, which failed to true spirit of elections and fair play.