Fri Sep 20 07:58:26 UTC 2024: ## Congress Slams Modi for “Inferior” Response to Kharge’s Letter, Accuses BJP of Poisoning Politics

**New Delhi:** Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary, has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not personally responding to a letter written by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressing concern over threats made against Rahul Gandhi. Instead, Modi delegated the response to BJP President JP Nadda, who, according to Gandhi, penned an “inferior and aggressive” reply.

Kharge’s letter, addressed to Modi on Tuesday, sought action against BJP leaders who made objectionable and violent statements against Rahul Gandhi. The letter highlighted statements by Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu and UP Minister Raghuraj Singh, who called Gandhi a “number one terrorist,” and Sanjay Gaikwad, a BJP ally Shiv Sena MLA, who offered Rs. 11 lakh to anyone chopping off the Congress leader’s tongue.

In response, Nadda, besides listing past abuses hurled at Modi by Congress leaders, took a dig at Gandhi and called him a “failed product” rejected by the public.

Gandhi, in a tweet on Friday, questioned Modi’s disrespect for Kharge, who is older than the Prime Minister, and said that asking questions and communicating are fundamental to democracy. “If the Prime Minister had faith in democratic values, equal dialogue and respect for elders, he would have personally responded to this (Mr Kharge’s) letter,” she wrote in Hindi.

She further criticized the aggressive tone of Nadda’s response, stating that “there is a lot of poison in today’s politics,” and Modi should have set a different example. She added, “It is unfortunate that our leaders in the highest positions in the government have rejected these great traditions.”

This incident follows a series of attacks by BJP leaders on Rahul Gandhi, particularly for his recent statements made in the US about the reservation system and religious freedom. While Gandhi later clarified his comments, PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have continued their criticism.

The Congress party has accused the BJP of resorting to hate speech and intimidation, arguing that these tactics are harmful to the fabric of Indian democracy.

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