Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday responded to Congress nationwide president Mallikarjun Kharge’s alleged jibe about his “father”, saying it was not unusual for the grand old party to abuse him but this time they had gone a step ahead and brought in his father who had died 40 years ago.

“…I am doing what you like and Congress people are upset with me that why is Modi doing this? They are verbally abusing me day and night. Yesterday, Congress president attacked my father. It has been 40 years since he passed away but he verbally abused him too. What has happened to the Congress… Kharge ji, you were not like this, what has happened to you…” Modi stated throughout a public rally in Rajasthan’s Nagaur.

A day earlier than at a public rally in Quthbullapur village in Hyderabad, Kharge took a dig on the prime minister and Telangana chief minister Okay Chandrashekar Rao. He stated whereas Prime Minister Modi is a liar, “his baap (referring to KCR as his ‘father’) sitting right here (in Telangana)” is also a liar and does not have the money to fulfil the promises he makes.

“PM Modi, BJP and their ‘brother’ KCR never speak the truth… the PM asked you to vote for him saying he will give Rs 15 lakh to everyone, but did he do that? No, he did not; so, he lied… that’s why we (the Congress) said PM Modi is a liar… and his ‘father’ (KCR) is here (in Telangana), he too has lied to you and said he will do this and that, but he doesn’t have the money to fulfil the promises he made…” Kharge stated in Hindi.

The BJP accused the Congress chief of “crossing a line” and “insulting” the PM’s father. But, as per Kharge’s speech, he was merely referring to KCR as “PM Modi’s father” when it comes to making false promises.

During his speech, Kharge further said the BJP is not in the race at all in the poll-bound state even as he alleged a conspiracy to defeat his party with the saffron camp tacitly supporting the ruling BRS. He did not stop at this but also brought in the RSS as being in “secret alliance” with the BRS and BJP. “The BRS, RSS and BJP have a secret alliance. If you vote for them, then you’ll go in direction of slavery. If you vote for the Congress, the federal government of poor will come,” he stated.

(With PTI inputs)