During a public event in Haryana, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and the people who vote for them are rakshas and that has created a stir in the political circle. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other BJP leaders have reacted strongly to the comment.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala called the ruling party and the people who have voted for Bharatiya Janata Party 'Rakshas' creating a stir. The leader was addressing an audience at Kaithal in Haryana when he said that both BJP and their supporters are rakshas or demons.
Reportedly, Surjewala said, "People of BJP and JJP are 'rakshas' and those who vote for the party and supports them are 'rakshas' too."
He continued to say, "Today, I curse from this land of Mahabharat."
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
The names called by the Congress leader did not sit well with the ruling party leaders. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri slammed Surjewala saying that the latter's words seemed like his party has decided to stay in opposition forever. He reportedly said, "Repeated electoral losses have pushed the Congress into irrelevance. They are going from Congress to irrelevance."
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also reacted to Surjewala's comment and he reportedly asked, "What do Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi believe? Do you consider the public "rakshas"? Is this your Mohabbat ki dukaan?"
Further Chouhan also said, "You are cursing people. You consider yourself a God. Is this your 'Mohabbat ki dukaan'?" he quippedm quoting Ram Dhari Singh Dinkar - "Jab naash manuj par chhata hai, pehle vivek mar jaata hai."
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar
The public event attended by Surjewala when he uttered the controversial comment was in Haryana and the Chief Minister of the state Manohar Lal Khattar said that the matter will be looked upon.
Khattar also reportedly said, "Only a person born into a family of 'rakshas' tendency can think of using such indecent language. We will definitely take cognisance of this."
Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday posted a clarification of his comment on X, previously called Twitter, he wrote, " Emotion and sentiment in dialogue are more important than words, which only a sensitive person can understand."
Pointing out the recent communal clashes in Haryana and speaking of Khattar, he said, "Haryana's Chief Minister Khattar ji threatens to behead a leader of the common Brahmin community, what is the behavior of a person sitting on a high position?" Surjewala continued to pose a question clarifying his 'rakshas' comment, asking, "Are those who throw the society in the fire of hatred and kill the dreams of young talents, less than demons?"