After intense backlash, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has apologised and expressed regret for his recent comments, saying the people of Gujarat were ‘illiterate’.
In a post on X, the congress leader said that his comments were deliberately misinterpreted. “Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret. It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect.“
The apology comes after Kharge came under fire for some of his remarks during an election rally in Idukki in Kerala.
During the rally, which was held ahead of the assembly elections, Kharge said that the people in Kerala were “educated and clever” and could not be misled, unlike people in Gujarat and other places.
The BJP quickly reacted, deeming the comments insulting and unacceptable.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Kharge’s statements were shameless, demeaning and utterly despicable.
"The position he holds was once occupied by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and even Rahul Gandhi. What kind of language is being used by someone holding such a post? Kharge's comment is not only demeaning, but shameless and utterly despicable," he said, as quoted by PTI.
He asked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to clarify whether they agreed with Kharge's statement.
"Do they agree with this statement? If Rahul Gandhi has any sense, he should distance himself from this remark, condemn it, and demand an apology," Prasad said.
Kharge was also criticised for some of the comments he made in Assam.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, reacting to the controversy, said that political discourse should not deteriorate and emphasised the need to maintain standards in public debate.
