Kharge’s Remark Pushes BJP Into Strong Action
Kharge’s Gujarat Remark Draws Strong Reaction, With BJP Leaders Demanding An Apology And Holding A Silent Protest
Karnavati Mahanagar held a silent protest at the Income Tax in Ahmedabad after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks on Gujarat drew strong reaction from the BJP. Recent reports say the party described his comments as insulting and demanded an apology.
The protest fits a wider political pattern in Gujarat, where the BJP has often used street action and public demonstrations to respond quickly to remarks seen as offensive to the state. This latest response came just days after Kharge’s speech in Kerala triggered anger in BJP circles across Gujarat.
Kharge’s Remarks
The row began after Kharge, while campaigning in Kerala, referred to people in Gujarat as “illiterate and foolish” in a comparison with Kerala voters. News reports say this line led to sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who called it rude, divisive, and harmful to public feeling.
Several outlets reported that the BJP linked the remark to the Congress party’s wider attitude towards Gujarat. They said the issue was not just about one speech, but about how the party speaks about the state during election season.
The Reaction in Gujarat
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghvi publicly asked Kharge to apologise. Reports from major outlets said they argued that the remark insulted the people of Gujarat and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The anger also spread on social media and in party-facing channels, where BJP supporters repeated the claim that Congress had crossed a line. Several reports said the issue quickly became a state pride matter, not just a party dispute.
The Congress has always ignored or insulted Gujarat, and recent reporting shows that this line is now being used strongly by the BJP in its attack. News coverage also shows that Kharge’s words have fed into an older political fight between Congress and the BJP over who truly stands with Gujarat.
Earlier speeches by Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, have often placed Gujarat at the centre of national politics. That has made the state a regular flashpoint in the rivalry between the two parties.
The Election Angle
Reports say this controversy came at a sensitive time, with local body elections in Gujarat nearing. That timing has made the issue sharper, because both parties know that public anger and state identity can shape voter mood.
In this setting, the BJP is trying to turn Kharge’s remark into a wider message about respect for Gujarat. Congress, meanwhile, faces pressure to control the damage and avoid giving the BJP more material for its campaign.
The Gujarat Congress leaders are choosing to remain silent because they know they are on the back foot. It is always a difficult job to cover someone else’s mess, especially when it directly affects public sentiment.
