Sambalpur (Odisha) [India], August 28 : Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday hit out at the opposition over alleged derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother during the 'Voter Adhikaar Yatra' in Bihar's Darbhanga, and labelled it as them crossing all limits.
He attacked Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying that the latter should first deal with the land grab case against his brother-in-law, Robert Vadra.
"Those who stole votes in Bihar for decades, looted votes of the poor using bombs, guns and sticks, are the ones who are shouting the most about vote theft today. They have crossed all limits. They used abusive language against PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi should first deal with the land grab cases against his brother-in-law," Pradhan told ANI.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday lashed out at Rahul Gandhi, saying that the latter has "lost his senses."
"I am stating clearly that Rahul Gandhi ka dimaag chori ho gaya hai. When one loses one's senses, one tends to speak such indecent things. You are called a national leader, yet you say such things. What right do you have to be called a national leader? We should ignore when somebody's mind gets lost," Fadnavis told reporters here.
Earlier in the day, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra lambasted Rahul Gandhi and the other leaders of the INDIA bloc over the kind of language being used in Bihar's 'Voter Adhikaar Yatra', accusing them of engaging in the "politics of abuse".
"There's no difference between Rahul Gandhi, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Sanjay Raut. There's a competition among the INDIA bloc leaders. Rahul Gandhi is the new Mani Shankar Aiyar of Congress. This politics of abuse is not limited to the Prime Minister," Patra said while addressing a press conference here.
Patra criticised the abuses hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Voter Adhikaar Yatra and slammed Rahul Gandhi for addressing the latter as "tu", which he implied was disrespectful to the Prime Minister of 140 crore Indians.
"It is unfortunate...the kind of language that is being used in a Yatra in Bihar. There is dignity in democracy. The kind of bitterness and language being used for PM Modi and his late mother is shameful for Congress, which used to link itself with the freedom movement of this country. Rahul Gandhi should understand that Modi is the Prime Minister of 140 crore people in this country. In this country, people don't accept undignified language," the BJP leader said.
"Since 2012 and 2013, Congress has used such language for the PM - 'Maut Ka Saudagar, Naali ka Keeda, Neech Aadmi, Cockroach, Virus'...all these abuses have been hurled at the honourable Prime Minister. On top of that, Congress accuses us of Hitlershahi, dictatorship. Where in the world are such words used for the PM in a democratic country? For them, the act of beating up would be democratic," he added.
This comes after Rahul Gandhi, in his Muffarpur rally on Wednesday, doubled down on his criticism of PM Modi over claims made by US President Donald Trump regarding the "halting" of conflict between India and Pakistan, where Gandhi addressed the PM as "tu" while narrating the incident.
The 16-day 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar, involving Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, aims to raise awareness about alleged irregularities in the voter list, which opposition leaders have termed a case of 'vote chori' (vote theft).
Covering over 1,300 km across 20 districts, the yatra is scheduled to conclude in Patna on September 1.
Bihar Assembly elections are expected later this year, although the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date.