Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal on Monday criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent remarks, accusing him of violating political decorum and calling for greater restraint and responsibility in public discourse.
Samal, a Rajya Sabha MP, said political differences were an integral part of democracy, but public representatives must exercise caution in their choice of words and uphold the dignity of political debate.
Condemning Kharge’s comments, the Odisha BJP president said political leaders had a responsibility to ensure that their statements reflected maturity, civility and respect for national pride. He described remarks that crossed the limits of acceptable political discourse as unfortunate and deserving of strong disapproval.
Taking a dig at the Congress, Samal said the party needed to recognise its responsibilities as the principal opposition, having governed the country for several decades. He alleged that its prolonged absence from power had led to frustration, which was reflected in its political rhetoric and manoeuvring.
Citing the examples of senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Arun Jaitley, Pramod Mahajan and Sushma Swaraj, Samal said their public conduct offered valuable lessons in maintaining dignity while engaging in political disagreements.
He stressed that leaders could articulate their political positions without compromising linguistic propriety or standards of public behaviour.
Samal also expressed confidence that people would respond appropriately to what he termed uncivilised and undignified political conduct.
His remarks came amid a political exchange over Kharge’s recent comments, with the BJP leader emphasising the need for restraint, civility and accountability in public life.
