NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday strongly criticised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remarks against party leaders, calling his language "offensive and uncivilised" and condemning the action taken against party spokesperson Pawan Khera.
Speaking to IANS, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said: "The Chief Minister has used such an offensive language against our National President Mallikarjun Kharge and our leaders and us, including Rahul Gandhi, which cannot be the language of any Chief Minister or any civilised person."
Tiwari also criticised the police action linked to Khera, stating, "The action they took against Pawan Khera and the way the Chief Minister has insulted him by sending police in Delhi yesterday, I condemn his harsh words. What Pawan Khera had said, was based on the records in front of him."
The controversy stems from remarks made a day earlier by Sarma while speaking to reporters in Assam's Jorhat, where he launched a sharp attack on Kharge and questioned statements made by Congress leaders.
"Kharge is ageing and is speaking like a 'pagal' (madman). You insult the people first and then say you will ask the External Affairs Minister for verification?" the Chief Minister said, drawing strong reactions from the opposition.