Bhopal: A remark made by senior Congress Madhya Pradesh leader and former state minister Raja Pateria has set off shockwaves and the Congress is facing massive backlash. In his controversial speech, he can be seen goading the audience to “kill” Prime Minister Narendra Modi if they want to “save” the Constitution. Though he immediately clarified he didn’t mean murder but political defeat. Several BJP leaders have called for Pateria’s arrest, claiming the grand old party’s “real face” has been exposed.
Reacting to the video, the state home minister has ordered the police to register a case against him. A union minister has called it an “unpardonable crime”. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also slammed the Congress in a video statement, saying, “the real side of those pretending to do a “Bharat Jodo Yatra” is coming out”.
In a viral video, Pateria is seen talking about winning the elections, and also mentioning Prime Minister Modi. He is seen telling the workers that, “Modi will end elections, Modi will divide on the basis of religion, caste, language; the lives of Dalits, tribals, and minorities are in danger. If the constitution is to be saved, then be ready to kill Modi.”
However, later in the video, Raja Pateria claims the word ‘murder’ in his speech meant defeat. He said he follows Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology of non-violence, and that he meant it was necessary to defeat PM Modi electorally to protect minorities.
The video is reportedly from Pawai town in Panna district.
Coming down hard on the Congress, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said its “real sentiments” have been revealed.
“The respected PM Modi lives in the hearts of the people, he is the centre of the admiration and faith of the entire country. Congress people can’t face the PM in the electoral battle, and one Congress leader talks about his murder. This is the height of jealousy. This is excess hatred. Congress’s real sentiments have been revealed, but such things won’t be tolerated. An FIR is being registered, and the law will take its course,” he was quoted as saying.
Home Minister Narottam Mishra has ordered lodging a First Information Report. “Such statements show that today’s Congress is not Mahatma Gandhi’s Congress. It’s the Congress of Italy that is afflicted with a Mussolini mindset,” he said.
Union minister Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi called Raja Pateria’s remark against the Prime Minister “an unpardonable crime”.
“Even if Raja Patria declares himself mentally unsound, he should not get away with this crime. I request the government of Madhya Pradesh that immediate and strict action should be taken against Raja Pateria,” he said in a video appeal.
