New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his alleged remarks against Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, calling the language used “abusive, shameful and unacceptable.”

In a post on X, Gandhi strongly condemned the remarks, asserting that Kharge is a “senior, widely respected Dalit leader and mass representative” whose stature and experience are “unparalleled in Indian politics.”

He said that any insult directed at Kharge is not merely personal but an affront to crores of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC-ST) communities across the country.

“This is not an isolated incident,” Gandhi said, alleging that such statements reflect a “deep-rooted and systematic mindset” within the BJP and RSS.

He further accused the ruling party of having a history of disrespecting Dalit icons and leaders, stating that whenever a Dalit leader “speaks the truth,” they are subjected to humiliation and personal attacks.

The Congress leader also invoked the legacy of B. R. Ambedkar, claiming that instances of disrespect towards Dalit figures and representatives are consistent with what he described as the ideological character of the BJP-RSS combine.

Gandhi went on to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the issue.

“Do you support the language used by Himanta Sarma?” he asked, adding that the Prime Minister’s silence should not be seen as helplessness but as “implicit consent.”

He further said that if the Prime Minister fails to speak out when the dignity of millions of Dalits is allegedly being undermined, it amounts to shirking responsibility and becoming a “participant in that insult.”

The remarks have added to the ongoing political tensions between the Congress and the BJP ahead of key electoral contests, with both parties trading sharp accusations over issues of leadership, ideology, and social justice.

–IANS

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