BJP accuses Kharge of insulting President Murmu, ex-President Kovind; Congress terms charge 'rubbish'

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday attacked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of insulting President Droupadi Murmu and former President Ram Nath Kovind with "derogatory and casteist" remarks, and demanded an unconditional apology.

Kharge allegedly made the derogatory remarks while speaking at an event in Chhattisgarh, where he referred to President Murmu as "Murma ji" and then went on to mispronounce the name of her predecessor Ram Nath Kovind before correcting himself. BJP said Kharge had deliberately sighted the President and Kovind. BJP also demanded that Congress remove Kharge.

Congress, however, rubbished the charge with party member Pawan Khera alleging that the attack on Kharge was reflective of "BJP's mentality".

Addressing a public rally in Raipur on Monday, Kharge also said BJP always talks big saying that it made Droupadi Murmu and Ram Nath Kovind presidents of the country, "but did the party do all this to snatch our assets, forests, water and land?"

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia charged Congress of having an "anti-tribal and anti-Dalit mindset".

Bhatia also alleged that Kharge mocked Kovind. He cited a reference to Kovind to allege that Kharge called the former President "Covid". "You call her 'Murma ji' and then call her a land mafia, alleging that she has become President to snatch away assets, forests," he charged.

Talking to PTI, Khera dismissed BJP's charge, saying, "This is rubbish. This is the kind of mentality that BJP has. You appoint a tribal leader as President of India but you do uncountable injustice to tribals of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and everywhere, you are literally exploiting their resources. You are cutting their trees. You are robbing their 'jal, jungle and zamin', their identity, but when we ask them a question, they'll say the President of India is a tribal."