WATCH Viral Video: Was Kharge Insulted? BJP, Congress Clash Over Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad Nomination

In a heated exchange between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, a video clip showing Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge looking through the door of a room during Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's nomination filing in Wayanad has sparked controversy.

The BJP has seized on this footage, accusing Congress of showing "disrespect" to Dalit leaders, particularly Kharge, who is a senior Congress figure and Dalit representative.

The Controversial Video

The viral video captures Kharge appearing to wait outside the room where Priyanka Gandhi was completing her nomination process. In the wake of its release, prominent BJP figures, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, expressed outrage. Sarma described it as "deeply disheartening" to witness such disrespect toward a veteran parliamentarian and called into question the treatment of those who are seen as mere "rubber stamps" by Congress leadership.

Chandrasekhar questioned Kharge's absence during the nomination filing, implying that it reflected a lack of respect from the Gandhi family. He tweeted, "Where were you @Kharge Saheb when the first family, Priyanka Vadra ji, was filing her nomination? Just imagine if they treat a senior Dalit leader like this, how they will treat the people of Wayanad."

BJP's Accusations

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Kharge's treatment was indicative of the Congress party's attitudes toward Dalit leaders. He asked if the Gandhis kept Kharge out because of his Dalit background, further escalating the tension between the two parties.

The official BJP handle shared the video, stating, "The way Mallikarjun Kharge ji was kept out of the room during Priyanka Vadra's nomination today... If the Gandhi family can insult Kharge ji like this, one can only imagine the disdain they hold for the Dalit community."

Congress's Response

In a swift rebuttal, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate countered the BJP's accusations by sharing photographs showing Kharge seated alongside Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. She dismissed the BJP's claims as lies, asserting that there are limits to the number of individuals allowed in the room at a time during such events.

"Here comes the liar in chief, CM Himanta! You must speak and tweet even less. The world is witnessing your buffoonery," she remarked in response to Sarma's comments. She further criticized Chandrasekhar for his remarks, questioning his qualifications to comment on the situation and highlighting the inconsistencies in his position.