Congress chief jabs Himanta Sarma over 'join BJP' remark: 'Why is he bothered?'

Days after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a swipe at the Congress president after the latter sought to meet Narendra Modi over the party's manifesto, Mallikarjun Kharge said he had addressed the Prime Minister and the BJP leader should not be bothered.

Addressing the media in Assam on Saturday, Kharge said, "I have spoken to Modi, not the CM. I am Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. I was also in Lok Sabha. So, I have some competence in parliamentary affairs. So, who is my opponent in Parliament? Modi. So, I will speak to Modi. Why is he (Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma) bothered? Let him face our people here and then speak about me."

On Thursday, Sarma took a jibe at Kharge after the Congress chief wrote a letter to PM Modi, seeking time to explain the party's manifesto. The former Congress leader had said if Kharge wanted to join the BJP, then he should.

"PM Modi can read and write English very well. You (Congress) have written your manifesto in both Hindi and English. Why should there be any supplementary communication? Why should there be any meeting between Kharge and the BJP at this time?" Sarma said while speaking to ANI.

"If Kharge wants to join the BJP, then he should, and he can come, then I will go to his home and escort him. Otherwise, what is the requirement of him meeting the PM?" the Assam CM further said.

In an open letter to PM Modi, Kharge had said that he would be happy to meet him to explain the reality of the Congress Nyay Patra.

Kharge addressed the Prime Minister on X and wrote, "You are being misinformed by your advisors about things that are not even written in our manifesto."

He was responding to PM Modi's remarks made at an election rally in Rajasthan. The Prime Minister alleged that the Congress manifesto stated that the party would distribute the nation's wealth among "infiltrators" and "those who have more children", a reference to the Muslim community.

"They will check how much gold and silver our sisters own. The gold is not just for showing, it's a woman's self-esteem. The value of mangalsutra is not just limited to the price of gold, but is connected with their dreams. You (Congress) are talking about taking it away," the Prime Minister had said.