Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condemned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for reportedly using derogatory language about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, calling the remarks “entirely condemnable, shameful and unacceptable.” The exchange, which emerged during a heated response by Sarma to allegations from Congress leaders including Pawan Khera about Sarma and his family, reportedly included Sarma saying Kharge was “speaking like a madman” (“pagal”) and asking, “Who is Kharge?” amid disputed claims involving passports and related matters.
Gandhi said the insult was not only an attack on an individual but an affront to millions from the SC‑ST community, adding that “Kharge ji is a senior and popular Dalit and mass leader of the country, his experience, stature and reputation are unparalleled. Insulting him is not just an insult to one individual, but also to the crores of people from the SC‑ST community in this country.” He further accused the BJP‑RSS of a “long‑standing and well‑planned mindset” behind such attacks and directly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “Do you support Himanta Sarma’s language? Your silence is not helplessness, but consent.”
Senior Congress figures including Jairam Ramesh and K.C. Venugopal demanded an unconditional apology from Sarma, describing the comments as an assault on Dalit dignity and part of a broader pattern when opposition parties raise critical questions. Sarma’s office and the BJP had not issued a detailed response in available reports; the Chief Minister has previously defended his sharp retorts as necessary rebuttals to what he calls baseless personal allegations.
The episode has intensified political attention ahead of the Assam elections on Thursday, highlighting deepening divisions between the ruling BJP and the Congress. Critics say the remarks lower the level of public discourse, while supporters of Sarma argue they were a defensive reaction to unverified claims.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/assam-election-2026/assam-election-2026-rahul-gandhi-slams-himanta-biswa-sarma-over-madman-remarks-against-mallikarjun-kharge.html
Category: Assam,Assam Election 2026,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-04-08 07:30:00
