Muzaffarpur: A legal complaint has been filed against Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge for his controversial remarks on bathing in the Ganges during the Maha Kumbh Mela, accusing him of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The complaint was lodged by Advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha in the Chef Judicial Magistrate Court of Muzaffarpur in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on February 3. According to the plaintiff, Kharge's statement, made during a rally in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh was an "attempt to exploit religious sentiments for political purposes".
In his speech, Kharge questioned whether taking a dip in the Ganges could remove poverty or unemployment, suggesting that it did not provide any real solutions to people's struggles.
Advocate Ojha argued that the Congress President's comments were offensive to the Hindu faith, stating that it undermined the spiritual importance of the Ganges and Maha Kumbh. The complaint also accuses Kharge of "creating a religious imbalance" in society.
"His statement has hurt the faith of Hindus and could disturb public peace," said Ojha. The complaint quoted various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting unrest.
In response to the backlash, Kharge issued an apology, clarifying that he never intended to hurt anyone's religious beliefs. "If anyone is hurt by my statement, I sincerely apologise," he said. However, he continued his criticism of the BJP, accusing them of wasting public funds on religious events while failing to address issues like poverty and unemployment.
Kharge also made pointed remarks about BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of "committing sins so severe they couldn't reach heaven even in a hundred lifetimes".
