"...PM is not just a person but an institution on its own...," Rajnath Singh on Kharge's 'poisonous snake' remark

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 30 : Hitting out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his derogatory remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the grand old party is shredding the traditions of a healthy democratic system.
This comes after, Kharge while addressing an election rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Thursday, said, "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', you might think it's poison or not. If you lick it, you're dead."
However, Kharge later clarified that what he wanted to say is BJP's ideology is as dangerous as a snake and didn't mean to make a personal attack against PM Modi.
Addressing a public rally in the poll-bound state, Rajnath Singh said that the PM is not a state but an institution on its own.
"...PM is not just a person but an institution on its own...The manner in which Congress leaders are making personal attacks on the PM, they're shredding the traditions of a healthy democratic system...," he said.
Amid the high-decibel campaign for the ensuing Karnataka Assembly elections, Kharge's remark drew a sharp reaction from the BJP, which slammed the "slanderous" statement saying it reflected the "mentality" of the principal Opposition party in the state.
Clarifying his remark, Kharge on Thursday tweeted, "BJP's ideology is divisive, hostile and full of hatred and prejudice towards the poor and Dalits. I discussed the politics of hatred and malice. My statement was neither for PM Modi personally nor for any other person."