Guwahati, 26 October (HS): The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday staged a protest in Guwahati against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his alleged derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father, demanding an immediate apology from the Congress leadership and warning of a widespread agitation if the demand is not met.

Hundreds of BJP workers from the Guwahati Metropolitan District gathered in front of the Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex at Sarusajai and staged a sit-in demonstration. The protesters raised slogans against the Congress, Kharge and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, condemning what they described as an insult to the Prime Minister’s father.

According to a statement issued by BJP Assam spokesperson Ranjib Kumar Sharma, Kharge allegedly made the controversial remarks while addressing party workers in Patna, Bihar, on October 25.

The protest was attended by Guwahati Metropolitan District BJP president Tapan Das, Nagaon MLA and district in-charge Rupak Sharma, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Rakesh Das, Mahila Morcha president Purabi Roy, Scheduled Caste Morcha president Nabarun Medhi and Kisan Morcha president Pankaj Borbora, among other senior party leaders and state office-bearers.

Addressing the gathering, senior BJP leader Dr Pradip Thakuria described the Congress as a party that had deviated from its principles.

Rupak Sharma warned that the BJP would launch a mass agitation against the Congress if Kharge did not apologise to the people of the country for his alleged remarks. He called upon the Congress leadership to express regret without further delay.

BJP state vice-president Ratna Singh also criticised the Congress, describing it as a frustrated party increasingly disconnected from the public.

Another state vice-president, Ashok Bhattacharya, who led the demonstration, alleged that repeated electoral defeats had left Congress leaders disoriented and prompted them to cross the limits of political decorum.

The BJP maintained that the Congress leadership must take responsibility for the remarks and issue an unconditional apology, warning that failure to do so could trigger intensified protests in the coming days.---------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash