Mallikarjun Kharge calls PM Modi 'poisonous snake'

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday stirred up a controversy after he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a poisonous snake.

Addressing a rally in Kalaburagi, the Congress chief said, "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', and can kill those who want to taste the venom. If you lick the venom to test if it is poisonous or not, you will be dead."

Photo Credit: Mallikarjun Kharge

"The Karnataka BJP leaders are known for charging 40 per cent commission in every work they do. The people of Karnataka will teach a lesson to BJP leaders in the upcoming state elections," the Congress leader said.

Reacting sharply to Kharge's comments, BJP leader Amit Malviya claimed that Congress has stooped too low in fear of losing the Karnataka elections.

"Now Congress President Kharge calls Prime Minister Modi 'poisonous snake'. What started with Sonia Gandhi's 'maut ka saudagar', and we know how it ended, the Congress continues to plummet to new depths. The desperation shows Congress is losing ground in Karnataka and knows it," Malviya tweeted.

Following criticism, the Congress chief, in an attempt to damage control quickly clarified that his statement was not meant for Narendra Modi but BJP ideology.

"My comments are not meant for PM Modi. I said BJP's ideology is 'like a snake'. I did not make any personal remarks on the prime minister, what I said was that BJP ideology is like a snake and if you try to touch it, your death is certain," Kharge said.