'Wasn't my intention to hurt anyone': Kharge after his 'poisonous snake' remark against Modi

After backtracking from from his "poisonous snake" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he made during a poll rally in Kalaburagi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge came out with an apology saying it was never his intention to speak about any person or hurt anyone.

The apology comes in the wake of severe criticism from BJP leaders who said his statements reflect the Congress party's mindset and desperation.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, the Congress leader said his intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings. "If knowingly or unknowingly someone's feelings were hurt, it was never my intention."

He, however, continued his attack on the BJP saying the party's ideology is " divisive, disharmonious, full of hatred and prejudiced towards the poor and Dalits."

"I discussed this politics of hatred and malice. My statement was neither for PM Modi personally nor for any other person, but for the ideology he represents."

He claimed that he always followed the norms and traditions of political correctness and will continue to do so until his last breath. "I don't make fun of individuals and their problems like people in high positions because I have also seen and suffered the pain and suffering of the poor and downtrodden."

The Congress chief said for the past five decades, he has been opposing the divisive ideology of the BJP and RSS and their leaders. "My political fight was, is and always will be against his politics."

Several BJP leaders including Union ministers had slammed the Congress chief for his remark.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Twitter, "President of Congress Shri. Mallikarjun Kharge says, 'Modi is like a poisonous snake'. Shocking that Kharge ji, also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha speaks so about the PM. He is now trying to wriggle out. Hate is what is coming out. Kharge ji should apologise."

BJP IT department chief Amit Malviya, who also shared the video where Kharge made those comments, on Twitter, said, "Now Congress President Kharge calls Prime Minister Modi poisonous snake' What started with Sonia Gandhi's maut ka saudagar', and we know how it ended, the Congress continues to plummet to new depths. The desperation shows Congress is losing ground in Karnataka and knows it"

"The statement of Mr Kharge reflects vile politics of the Congress particularly of Gandhi family. Kharge's statement is a reflection of what the Gandhi family feels about PM...He gave clarification that he was attacking BJP's ideology. BJP's ideology is nation first. So is he saying he was not attacking PM Modi, rather he was attacking India," Union minister Smriti Irani said.