Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday sharply criticised Himanta Biswa Sarma, triggering a fresh political confrontation over his alleged remarks targeting senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.
In a post on X, Vadra wrote, “The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has used extremely rude and derogatory language against Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, which is utterly shameful and unacceptable.”
She further stated that Kharge represents not just the Congress party but also voices the concerns of Dalits and marginalised communities, adding that any attack on him goes beyond personal criticism and impacts larger sections of society.
Intensifying her attack, Vadra said such language from a constitutional office-bearer undermines democratic values and public discourse. She also sought a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning whether the central leadership endorses such remarks.
The development comes after Himanta Biswa Sarma criticised Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks seeking clarification from the central government and the foreign minister following a police visit to Congress leader Pawan Khera’s residence in New Delhi. The visit was linked to an FIR filed by the Chief Minister’s wife.
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed by BJP Assam spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sarmah, accusing Kharge of making inflammatory remarks during a gathering at Nilambazar in Sribhumi district on April 7. According to the complaint, Kharge allegedly described the ideology of the BJP and RSS as “poisonous” and compared it to a “poisonous snake.”
The complaint further claimed that Kharge called for the removal of the BJP, which, according to the complainant, could hurt sentiments and create tension among different groups.
