The row over Kharge's remark, made in Patna on Sunday, escalated on Monday as Singh said he was stunned and pained, and accused the Congress of defending the comment instead of apologising for it.
Rajnath says the remark insults India
Singh said he was shocked by the comment made by the Congress president about the Prime Minister's late father. He said such a comment is not merely an insult to an individual or a family, but an insult to the whole of India. He added that it is also an attack on the dignity of politics. In a democracy, he said, one can register dissent, question policies and criticise the government, but the limits of personal dignity must not be crossed.
Congress defending instead of apologising, says Singh
Singh accused the Congress of not stopping at the remark, but of now trying to justify Kharge's words and thereby hurting people's sentiments further. Instead of accepting the mistake and expressing regret, he said, the Congress is engaged in defending and justifying the statement. He said the most shocking part is that the remark came not from an ordinary worker or a young leader, but from the national president of a party that calls itself the country's oldest political party.
A question of the office and political culture
Singh said Kharge's conduct has hurt the sentiments of crores of countrymen, and the party's justification of his words is hurting them again. Given the post he holds, he said, greater seriousness, restraint, decorum and responsible conduct are expected from the Congress president in public life. If the national president of the Congress uses such language, he said, it goes against the dignity of his office and raises serious questions about the party's political culture.
Singh warns that voters are watching
Singh said political opposition has its place, but such conduct cannot be acceptable under any circumstances. He alleged that till yesterday some Congress leaders mocked the Prime Minister's humble family background and used indecent language about his mother, and today the same low-level politics has reached the party's top leadership. Turning ideological disagreement into personal insult and taking political differences to abusive language shows the Congress's desperation and ideological emptiness, he said. He added that PM Modi will neither be distracted by such remarks nor see his resolve to serve the people weaken, and that in a democracy the people keep an eye on everything and give a befitting reply when the time comes.
