The new president of Indian National Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge (file photo)
Gujarat: Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "jhoothon ka sardar" (chieftain of liars), Congress President Malikarjun Kharge wondered how many times the PM has lied.
On Sunday, Kharge said that Modi is trying to gather people's sympathy by calling himself poor and claiming that people abuse him a lot, PTI reported.
Speaking in a public rally at Dediapada in the tribal-dominated Narmada district of Gujarat, he said he himself belongs to the "poorest of the poor and untouchable caste".
"Modiji and (Union Home Minister Amit) Shah ask what Congress did in 70 years? Had we not done anything in 70 years, you would not have got democracy. And people like you who always claim to be poor. I am also poor. I am from the poorest of the poor. I come from the untouchable caste. At least people drink your tea. People do not even drink my tea," Kharge said.
"And then you say, I am poor, someone abused me, said something to me, asked what my status is. If you are trying to gain sympathy by saying such things, then (understand) people are now intelligent. They are not that foolish," he said.
He said that people might believe Modi if he is telling lies once or twice. But, "How many times have you told a lie?" he asked, alleging that Modi had indulged in telling "lie after lie" and was accusing the Congress of looting the country while he himself was standing with the rich.
"How many times have you told a lie? Lie after lie. He is a chieftain of liars. And on top of it, he says, these Congress people looted the country. You are also looting the land of the poor, not giving land to the Adivasis. Who is destroying land, water and forest? You and the rich people with whom you stand, they are looting us," he lashed out.
The Assembly polls in Gujarat will be held in two phases - on December 1 and 5, while votes will be counted on December 8.