Gujarati groups protest outside Delhi Congress office over Kharge's remark

New Delhi: Members of the Gujarati community held a protest outside the Congress office here on Wednesday alleging insult by the party's national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, during a recent election campaign in Kerala.

Kharge courted controversy during a rally in Kerala's Idukki district on Sunday when he said that people of the state are "educated and clever" and cannot be misled, unlike those in Gujarat and some other places who are "illiterates".

Protesters raised slogans such as "Apmaan ki rajneeti band karo" (stop the politics of insult) and "Gujarat jaag chuka hai" (Gujarat has woken up), and expressed anger over the alleged "derogatory comments" against the community.

BJP leaders and members of Gujarati associations joined the demonstration and demanded an apology from the Congress leadership.

Dhaval Patel, BJP MLA from Gujarat's Vansda, alleged that the remarks reflected a pattern of "insulting Gujaratis" by opposition leaders.

He referred to past statements attributed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others, claiming that such comments had hurt the sentiments of the community across the country.

Another participant, MP Mitesh Patel from Anand, said Gujaratis have gathered in Delhi following appeals from community groups.

Citing contributions of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he asserted that Gujarat has played a key role in the country's history and development.

The protesters said demonstrations were being held in different parts of the country and warned that the agitation would continue until Kharge and other Congress leaders issue an apology.

There was no immediate response from Congress on the protest.