Priyank Kharge tells EC his ‘nalayak’ remark a reaction to PM’s ’empty’ rhetoric for Banjaras

In a tweet, Priyank said: “Replied to Election Commission’s notice on the alleged violation of model code of conduct. I am ready to make any sacrifice and to accept any punishment for raising the voice of the underprivileged. Jai Hind! Jai Karnataka!”

He denied the allegations made in the BJP’s complaint to the EC against him that he had allegedly used abusive language and invoked caste to create disaffection among voters.

The Congress candidate stated his remark had to be seen in the context of the PM’s comment made at Kalburgi for the Banjara community, which has been, he charged, “deeply hurt by the anti-Banjara-Scheduled Caste policies of the Modi-Bommai Governments, who have done nothing for the SC-Banjara community (along with the entire SC-ST fraternity), except for paying lip service and then trampling upon their rights”.

Priyank said he was ready to accept any “punishment for raising the voice of the underprivileged”, claiming that he had not violated the MCC. The EC notice had said that prima facie it believed Kharge had violated the MCC provisions against attacks on the personal lives of leaders.

In is reply, Priyank denied that his remarks were a personal attack or malicious. “In fact, my statements were in response to his (PM’s) public speech as a BJP leader, exposing the empty nature of his soaring rhetoric,” he said.

He also said the MCC was meant to punish hate speech, not those exposing “the lies and empty rhetoric”. He said the EC was yet to take action against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath against whom the Congress has submitted complaints to the EC for hate speech.

The poll body had on Wednesday also issued a notice to BJP leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal for calling Sonia Gandhi “vishkanya (poison maiden)”.