'What he is saying is a lie': Kharge hits out at PM Modi's 'Katta' charge; calls it 'laughable'

NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegation that Rashtriya Janata Dal forced Congress to announce Tejashwi Yadav as Mahagathbandhan's pick for Bihar's chief minister's post.Kharge said that PM Modi's remarks were "laughable", claiming that he sets aside he level at which a PM should speak."All of this is a lie. He has nothing else to say. I will answer this today in Bihar. What he is saying is a lie. Nobody will tell someone else to make someone the CM at gunpoint," Kharge said."Congress has never done this. Modi ji is the PM of this country; his saying such things is laughable. This shows his level.

He sets aside the level at which a PM should speak and is making election speeches in Bihar," he added.This comes a day after PM Modi on Sunday alleged thate Congress “never wanted” Tejashwi to be declared the alliance’s CM face but was pressured into doing so.“The RJD secured it by placing a katta (country-made gun) on the head of the Congress. They have learnt their lessons in the school of jungle raj. Such elements can never do good for Bihar,” he said at a rally in Bhojpur.

"Just a day before nomination filing, behind closed doors, gundagardi was happening. Congress did not want to have an RJD CM, but RJD did not leave the opportunity. They put a Katta on Congress' head and stole the CM’s post," he added.He further claimed that the alliance partners were divided and would “break each other’s heads” after the elections.Hectic campaigning in poll-bound Bihar is set to continue on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge scheduled to address a host of public rallies across the state.The party's octogenarian national president Mallikarjun Kharge will also address his maiden election meeting, ahead of assembly polls, in Vaishali district.Polling for Bihar’s 243 assembly seats will take place in two phases: on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.