New Delhi [India], January 23 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson CR Kesavan strongly condemned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's background as a tea seller, calling the comments "toxic" and "vile", and alleging that they amounted to a direct attack on the dignity and self-respect of people belonging to OBC and disadvantaged communities.
In a post on X, Kesavan accused Kharge of launching a "grievous insult to the 140 crore hardworking and meritorious Indians" and stated that they were "parroting the noxious language of Rahul Gandhi."
"Mallikarjun Kharge ji's toxic remarks about PM @narnendramodi ji is a grievous insult to the 140 crore hardworking meritorious Indians. Kharge ji is parroting the noxious language of Rahul Gandhi and his remarks are a direct vile attack on the dignity and self-respect of our brothers and sisters belonging to the OBC and disadvantaged communities," he said.
"The Congress party is a habitual offender when it comes to abusing PM Modi and even his late mother," Kesavan added.
Kesavan argued that the Congress leadership remains deeply uncomfortable with the political reality that Prime Minister Modi continues to receive public support.
"The Congress leadership and Rahul Gandhi sorely detest the reality that the people of India continue to bless and choose PM Narendra Modi, who has risen through dedication and hard work, as opposed to the arrogant and entitled Rahul Gandhi, who has repeatedly been rejected by the people for his dangerous, divisive politics," he said.
Kesavan further lauded PM Modi's leadership, claiming that under his tenure, India has witnessed "tectonic transformation and inclusive development," emerging as "one of the front-ranking nations in the world."
He demanded that Kharge issue a public apology for his remarks, which he described as "most unbecoming".
https://x.com/crkesavan/status/2014277964746363072
The criticism follows a video shared by Kesavan in which Kharge called PM Modi's background as "chai-wala" a "natak" (drama). He questioned whether Modi had ever actually brewed tea or served it with a kettle, accusing him of using the story solely to garner votes from the poor while neglecting their welfare.
"To get votes, they claim to be tea sellers. Have you ever made tea? Have you ever gone around with a kettle, serving tea to every person? It's all just talk, and those who are trying to get votes by saying such things today, I would say it's all a drama; they have a habit of suppressing the poor," Kharge said in a video shared by Kesavan.