Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘Shiva Vs Ram’ Remark In Chhattisgarh Stirs Row, BJP Leader Reacts

A political row erupted after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “Ram Vs Shiva” remark during a poll rally in Chhattisgarh. Campaigning for Congress candidate from Janjgir-Champa Lok Sabha seat, Shivakumar Dahariya, Kharge compared ‘Shiva’ in his name to Lord Ram. “Ye Ram ka muqabla kar sakta hai kyunki ye Shiv hain (He can give tough fight to Lord Ram because he is Shiv),” the Congress president said.

Kharge further warned the BJP to not “lure people with religious talks” in an apparent jibe to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

“This candidate is Shivkumar Dahariya. His name is Shivkumar – barabar ye Ram ka muqabla kar sakta hai kyunki ye Shiv hai. I am Mallikarjun. Main bhi Shiv hoon…Don’t lure people through religious talks. People are clever,” he said.

The remark, however, did not go well with the BJP. Party national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to microblogging site X and accused “anti-Hindu” Congress of “dividing our Bhagwan (Gods)”.

“After attacking Sanatan, Shakti, Ram and Ram Mandir now Anti Hindu Congress which always wants to divide & rule – intends of dividing even our Bhagwan,” he said.

The BJP leader further claimed that Congress could resort to “dividing Hindus” just to “unite its Muslim vote bank”.

“Caste, language, then dividing on other grounds – if that wasn’t enough so now Ram vs Shiva ! Meanwhile they say Muslim votebank must unite but they divide Hindus. Anti Hindu Congress,” he said.

Seven Lok Sabha seats of Chhattisgarh – Sarguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur – will go to polls in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7.

Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.