Bengaluru, April 23 (IANS) The Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest near the Gandhi statue in Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, condemning Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement in which he referred to the Prime Minister as a “terrorist”.

The protest was led by BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, Leaders of Opposition in Assembly and Council, R. Ashoka, Chalavadhi Narayanaswamy, respectively, and other prominent leaders.

Speaking at the protest, Vijayendra said, “At a time when the entire world is recognising the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has called him a terrorist. This has been strongly condemned not only by the BJP but by the entire country.”

Condemning Kharge’s statement referring to PM Modi as a terrorist, Vijayendra said that Kharge and the Congress party are unable to tolerate the Prime Minister’s popularity. He pointed out that more than 25 countries have conferred their highest honours on PM Modi. He demanded that Mallikarjun Kharge apologise to the people of the country.

Vijayendra also criticised the state government, alleging that salaries are not being paid on time in several departments, including the police. He said this reflects the state’s deteriorating financial condition.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he makes anti-national statements even abroad. She further accused both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of being anti-India.

She alleged that they are behaving like foreign agents and even described them as agents of George Soros. She claimed that they are acting in India in line with such influences.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka said Kharge’s remarks are an unforgivable offence and an insult to the nation. He alleged that Congress leaders had referred to a cooker blast accused as “brother”.

He further claimed that a Rajya Sabha member, considered close to Kharge, had once raised pro-Pakistan slogans in the Vidhana Soudha, and alleged that Kharge had not condemned it. He also stated that Congress leaders remained passive during the terrorist attack on a hotel in Mumbai.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy questioned whether Kharge made the statement on his own or whether Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi had prompted him to do so.

He alleged that Kharge had earlier compared the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake and made statements inciting violence. He questioned whether calling the Prime Minister a terrorist reflects political maturity.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol questioned whether Kharge and his son were making such statements to please Sonia Gandhi. He recalled Kharge’s earlier comparison of the BJP and RSS to a poisonous snake.

He said that by making such remarks about the Prime Minister, Congress would face the curse of 140 crore people and predicted that the party would be wiped out. MPs, MLAs, and Members of the Legislative Council were present at the protest.

–IANS

mka/dpb