Kharge's swipe at BJP over Maha Kumbh holy dips sparks row

"Does taking a dip in Ganga alleviate poverty? When children are dying of hunger, these people spend thousands of rupees on taking dips in the Ganga and competing with each other. Such people cannot do any good for the country," the Congress President said.

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday took a sharp dig at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who participated in the holy dip during the ongoing Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

BJP MP Sambit Patra slammed Kharge for his remark, saying, "Rahul Gandhi and Congress should explain as to why they have such an 'anti-Sanatan' ideology. This isn't the first time that Mallikarjun Kharge said something against Sanatan."

Addressing the 'Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan' rally in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow, Kharge said "if taking dips into the Ganga would end poverty in the country or fill hungry stomachs".