Assam BJP files complaints against Kharge with police, EC over 'hate' speech

The BJP on Tuesday said it has filed complaints with Assam Police and the Election Commission against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his alleged hate speech at an election rally in the state.

Assam BJP spokesperson Pranjal Kalita, in a statement, said while Congress leaders repeatedly claim to uphold the Constitution, their actions "blatantly contradict the very spirit of constitutional freedom and respect for all faiths".

He said one complaint has been filed at the Basistha police station in Guwahati, and another was lodged with the poll panel.

Kalita said that the "recent demand by Kharge to ban RSS-BJP not only reflects political intolerance but also exposes the intellectual bankruptcy within the party's top leadership".

"The Assam Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemns the deeply offensive and irresponsible remarks made during an election rally on April 6 at Nilambazar in Sribhumi district, which amounted to an outright insult to Hindu beliefs and traditions," he added.

Such statements are not only condemnable, but also "dangerous for social harmony", Kalita said.

He also alleged that the Congress is deliberately attempting to "undermine 'Sanatan' culture", while projecting "other religions in a superior light", solely to gain political mileage.

This divisive approach has already been rejected by the people of Assam and the nation at large, he claimed.

"Taking serious note of this provocative and divisive rhetoric, the Assam BJP has lodged a formal FIR at Basistha Police Station in Guwahati and has also submitted a complaint before the Election Commission," Kalita said.

The ruling party has demanded immediate legal action against Kharge for allegedly spreading inflammatory and socially disruptive statements during the election campaign, he added.

Polling for the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on April 9. Votes will be counted on May 4.

During an election rally in Assam's Sribhumi district on Monday, Kharge citing the Quran, said that if a poisonous snake is passing in front of someone, even if he is offering namaz, then he should leave the namaz and kill that poisonous snake.

"I would say that breaking the namaz does not matter. The RSS and the BJP are that poisonous snake. If you don't kill this snake, you will not survive," he said.

In the police complaint, filed by BJP Social Media In-Charge Ranjib Kumar Sarmah, the ruling party alleged that Kharge made "derogatory statements" describing the ideology of BJP and RSS as "poisonous for the society".

It claimed that the Congress chief labelled that organisations as "poisonous snake" and called for elimination of the BJP.

"This statement is hurting all the members of Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Kharge is willing to promote enmity and wants to breach public peace and harmony in our society," the BJP complaint said.

Kharge's statement may lead to "communal clashes" between the indigenous communities of Assam, it added.

"Therefore, it is our humble request to take legal actions against the maker of the statement i.e. Mr Kharge as expeditiously as possible," Sarmah said in his complaint.

In his press release, Kalita asserted that in a desperate attempt to "appease a particular vote bank", the Congress party has "stooped to the extent of targeting the sacred symbols of Sanatan civilization".

"Sanatan civilization has always revered nature and its elements, including animals and living beings, as sacred. However, in a calculated attempt to polarize voters, Congress has tried to portray even the sacred ornaments of Lord Shiva as harmful, thereby hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees," he added.

The BJP will not tolerate any attempt to hurt religious sentiments, disturb social harmony or misuse electoral platforms for divisive propaganda, and strict action must be taken in accordance with the law, Kalita said.