Patna, Apr 9 (PTI) The Bihar unit of the Congress on Thursday staged a protest against “objectionable remarks” made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Congress leaders also burnt the effigy of Sarma outside the party’s headquarters in Patna.
Congress leader Pawan Khera had on Sunday alleged that Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, has multiple passports and foreign property, which were not declared in the Assam chief minister’s election affidavit. Sarma had hit out at Kharge, claiming that he was “speaking like a madman” due to old age, after the latter put the onus on central agencies to probe the charges.
Speaking to reporters here, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram said, “The insult to Kharge ji is not merely an affront to an individual but also hurts the sentiments of crores of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.” He described the language used by Sarma as “unfortunate, condemnable and against democratic decorum,” and demanded that the Assam CM issue a public apology.
“Kharge ji, an eight-time MP, is a Dalit deader who rose through the ranks in Congress to become AICC president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. The RSS, BJP and leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma feel uneasy with this fact and have never held positive thinking towards Dalits,” Ram said.
He warned that Congress would intensify its agitation “from the streets to the legislature” if the statement was not withdrawn.
“Dalits across the nation see Sarma’s statement as a breach of their constitutional rights,” he added. PTI SUK ACD
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