New Delhi | Gadag: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday evening attempted a damage control after his statement in poll-bound Karnataka comparing PM Modi to a “poisonous snake” provided BJP an ammunition to hit back at the Congress leadership.

Dismissing the clarification, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said he was trying to “wriggle out”. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: “He must be under some compulsion. He gave such a statement to please his political masters.”

“BJP’s ideology is divisive, hostile and full of hatred and prejudice towards the poor and Dalits. I discussed the politics of hatred and malice. My statement was neither for PM Modi personally nor for any other person but the ideology he represents. Our fight with PM Modi is not a personal fight… If knowingly or unknowingly someone’s feelings were hurt, then it was never my intention,” Kharge tweeted.
Addressing a gathering in Gadag district, Kharge said: “Don’t make a mistake. Modi is like a poisonous snake. If you say, ‘no, it’s not poisonous, let’s lick it and find out’. Don’t go to lick it. If you lick, you die.” Hitting out at Kharge, Sitharaman said “hate is coming out” and sought the leader’s apology.