New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday raised strong objections to remarks allegedly made by Congress workers during a party rally in the national capital, calling them deeply disturbing and contrary to democratic values. He urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to publicly apologise in Parliament for what he described as a threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the media at a press conference convened at short notice, Kiren Rijiju claimed that slogans raised at the Congress gathering on Sunday included references to “digging the grave” of the Prime Minister. He termed the language used as shocking and unacceptable, saying such statements undermine the spirit of India’s democratic discourse.
The minister stressed that political rivalry should never cross the line into hostility or violent rhetoric. According to him, while parties may differ sharply on ideology and policies, leaders and workers are not adversaries in a personal sense. “We may contest elections and criticise one another, but there is a basic sense of mutual respect,” Rijiju said.
He pointed out that across party lines, leaders often exchange greetings and interact cordially despite political disagreements. “Criticism is part of democracy, but threats and references to physical harm have no place in it,” he added, questioning the mindset behind such remarks.
Rijiju also underscored that Narendra Modi, as Prime Minister, represents the aspirations of 140 crore Indians and leads the world’s largest democracy. Any statement perceived as threatening the head of government, he said, is not merely an attack on an individual but an affront to the nation itself.
Calling a simple condemnation insufficient, the minister insisted that senior Congress leaders must take responsibility. He demanded that Kharge and Gandhi issue a formal apology from the floor of both Houses of Parliament, addressing not only the Prime Minister but the country at large.
“If there is any sense of accountability and respect for the people of India, the Congress leadership should apologise without delay,” Rijiju said, reiterating that such conduct cannot be normalised in democratic politics.
