Union Minister Chirag Paswan attacks Congress chief Kharge, says "using his health for politics"

Speaking to reporters in Patna, Paswan said, "Mallikarjun Kharge is much older than me in age, status, and experience. We all respect his experience. Many young leaders learn from him. In such a situation, using such language is not right... Yesterday we were worried about his health."

"On one hand, the Prime Minister enquired about his health, and on the other hand, he is doing politics. What kind of thinking is this that you are using your health for politics?..."

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of using abusive words against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Poonawalla told ANI, "We pray to God to give a long and healthy life to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge...But everyone can see that on one hand, our culture is that PM Modi immediately enquired about Mallikarjun Kharge's well-being, whereas on the other hand, abusive words are used for PM Modi (by Congress)...This shows their (Congress) culture..."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday felt unwell while addressing a poll campaign rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, and after taking rest, Kharge said that he will not die until PM Modi is "removed from power."

"We will fight to restore statehood. I am 83 years old, I am not going to die so early. I will stay alive till PM Modi is removed from power," Congress leader Kharge said.

Responding to his remarks, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday while addressing a public rally in Haryana, "I respect the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, but yesterday in one of his rallies he might not be keeping well, and the security personnel were helping him, and even then he was saying I will stay alive until I remove Modi Ji from chair. I would like to tell him that the maximum age in Kalyug is 125 years. I pray to God that Mallikarjun Kharge lives for 125 years and PM Modi remains the PM for 125 years."

Haryana will go to the polls on October 5 to elect its 90-member state legislative assembly, with counting set to take place on October 8. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party, securing 40 seats, while Congress won 30 seats. The BJP is confident of forming the government in the state for third term. (ANI)