CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: Kharge remark exposes differences in Congress, Chavan calls it a mistake; Shinde says expel him
Mumbai. The political confrontation over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s controversial comment about Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified. Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan described Kharge’s statement as a mistake and stressed the need for restrained language in public life. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, meanwhile, criticised Kharge over the issue and demanded that he be expelled from the Congress. The developments have triggered a fresh round of political statements.
Prithviraj Chavan says restraint in language is necessary. Prithviraj Chavan said on October 27 that leaders of any political party should not abandon the limits of language on a public platform. According to him, Kharge made a mistake and should offer a clarification on his statement. However, Chavan also said that political opponents had in the past made objectionable comments against Congress leaders. He appealed to leaders of all parties to maintain civility in dialogue.
Eknath Shinde demands expulsion. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, citing Chavan’s response, asked that if Kharge’s statement was wrong, the Congress should take action against him. He demanded that Kharge be removed from the party and criticised the use of such language against the Prime Minister.
The statement was made at a programme in Patna. The controversy began on October 25 during an event held in Patna, the capital of Bihar. At the programme organised on the 139th birth anniversary of former Bihar chief minister Shrikrishna Singh, Kharge was raising the issue of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list and alleged irregularities. During this, while responding to a comment from a person in the audience, he used controversial words about the Prime Minister.
After the statement, BJP leaders criticised Kharge and demanded an apology from him. Reactions also emerged from the Congress regarding the context of the comment. Chavan’s disagreement and Shinde’s demand for expulsion have now given the controversy a new political turn.
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