In a divisive statement directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior Congress leader in Madhya Pradesh urged supporters to be ready to “kill Modi” in order to protect the Constitution and the future of Dalits and minorities.
The Congress leader and former state minister Raja Pateria’s name is mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR), which the state government has ordered against him. Pateria can be heard instructing Congress workers in a video that appeared on social media on Monday morning, saying, “Be ready to kill Modi. Kill in the sense of defeating him.”
“Modi will divide on the basis of religion, caste and language. The future of Dalits, tribals and minorities is in danger. If you want to save the Constitution, then be ready to kill Modi. Kill in the sense of defeating him,” he added.
MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attacked Congress, saying, “Congress people are not able to compete with PM Narendra Modi in the field, that’s why a Congress leader is talking about killing him. This is the height of hatred. True feelings of Congress are being revealed. An FIR is being registered against him and law will take its course.”
Following the release of the video, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that Pateria’s remarks on the prime minister were extremely offensive and that he had immediately instructed the police chief to file an FIR against the Congress leader.
In the meantime, Pateria released a video statement explaining that he intended to “defeat” PM Modi in the polls but that his comments were misrepresented. ”A video related to a mandal meeting yesterday at Pawai has surfaced. I am a follower of Mahatma Gandhi who can’t talk about killing anyone. It was wrongly presented. I wanted to say defeat Modi to protect the Constitution, dalits, tribals and minorities and also to remove unemployment,” he justified.
