Udupi MLA has no credentials to speak about Rahul Gandhi, says U.T. Khader

Senior Congress leader B. Ramanath Rai addressing a press conference in Mangaluru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
Raghava M.

Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader said here on Thursday that Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna had no credentials to speak about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Condemning the way the Udupi MLA allegedly spoke against Mr. Gandhi at a BJP programme in Udupi on Tuesday, Mr. Khader said no one would believe Mr. Suvarna’s baseless remarks against the Congress leader.

Mr. Gandhi comes from a family that has sacrificed lives to maintain the unity of the country, the Minister said. “People know very well about the sacrifices made by Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It is not easy to erase these sacrifices from people’s minds,” he said. It is better not to react to such mindless remarks, Mr. Khader said.

The MLA’s statements against Mr. Gandhi appeared to be a desperate attempt to remain in the reckoning within the party, he said.

Senior Congress leader B. Ramanath Rai, at a separate press conference, said Mr. Suvarna’s remarks showed a tendency within the BJP to encourage people with a radical mindset. The MLA should be disqualified for making baseless comments against Mr. Gandhi, he said. “Let alone harming Mr. Rahul Gandhi, if Mr. Suvarna harms any Congress worker, he will face the wrath of Congress workers,” Mr. Rai warned the Udupi MLA.