Haryana CM calls Sonia Gandhi "mari hui chuhiya", Congress fumes
What's the story
Manohar Lal Khattar, the Chief Minister of Haryana, is (in)famous for his controversial remarks. He says things which spark a huge row, and Khattar has done it again by targeting interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Dismissing her return as the head of the party, Khattar called her "mari hui chuhiya" (dead rat). Obviously, Congress took offense at his words and demanded an apology.
What happened
In Sonipat, Khattar took a jibe at Congress' leadership
The incident happened on Sunday when Khattar was addressing a rally in Sonipat, Haryana. Taking a dig at Congress' leadership, he said he was glad when former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said his successor won't be from his family. To recall, Rahul stepped down from the top post after Congress suffered a second straight defeat in Lok Sabha polls.
Quote
He said Congress dug up a "dead mouse"
"Then, these people started searching (for the new president). After three months, they made Sonia Gandhi the Congress chief. It was like khoda pahaad, nikli chuhiya, woh bhi mari hui... (like digging up a mountain to find a mouse, that too a dead one)," he said.
Looking back
Earlier, Khattar said Congress is all about "Sonia Mata"
This is not the first time that Khattar has passed controversial remarks against Sonia. Earlier this month, at a rally in Naraingarh in Ambala district he said, "When we say what should be given priority, we say country always comes first. On the other hand, Congress treats their leaders first, We say Bharat Mata Ki Jai, some in Congress say Sonia Mata Ki Jai."
Protest
Today, Congress will burn Khattar's effigy, protest outside BJP's office
Taking strong offense at Khattar's latest remark, Congress asked the BJP leader to apologize. The party said he has only shown the "the anti-women character" of BJP. As per reports, Delhi Pradesh Mahila Congress led by Sharmistha Mukherjee has called for a protest outside the saffron party's office at 2:30 pm today. Congress workers have also planned to burn an effigy of Khattar.
Twitter Post
Separately, Mahila Congress chief said BJP is full of misogynists
This comment by @mlkhattar is shameful. It is abundantly clear that @BJP4India is a party full of rabid misogynists. https://t.co/oY8Qy35jSP
— Sushmita Dev (@sushmitadevinc) October 13, 2019
Details
Not long ago, Khattar passed ill-comments about Kashmiri girls
While Congress plans to embolden its fight using Khattar's remarks, it's unclear if it will yield results. When Khattar made sexist remarks in August after the abrogation of Article 370, he remained unscathed. He had said the historic decision has paved way for bringing Kashmiri daughters-in-law to Haryana. While his sexism-laced comments sparked a massive row, Khattar said his statements were "misreported".
Do you know?
Assembly elections in Haryana are just a few days away
To note, Assembly elections will be held in Haryana on October 21, along with Maharashtra. The results will be declared on October 24. Both states are currently governed by BJP, and the party wants to keep it that way.