New Delhi [India], August 24 (ANI): Congress leader BK Hariprasad on Sunday slammed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his 'Rahul Gandhi speaks nonsense' remark and reminded him that he was once part of the Congress party.

Hariprasad said that Rijiju had left Congress to 'eat malai' in the BJP.

'Kiren Rijiju ran away from Congress to eat 'malai' there. If Congress had not recognised him, no one would have recognised him. Ask him to speak about the village built by the Chinese in Arunachal,' the Congress leader told ANI.

Earlier today, Congress leader Harish Chaudhary accused the BJP of deflecting from key issues like vote theft following Kiren Rijiju's recent remarks. He emphasised Congress's internal democracy, praising party leaders for inclusive leadership.

Chaudhary accused the BJP of engaging in 'politics of deflection' amid ongoing discussions about alleged vote theft.

Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader said, 'They are doing the politics of deflection. Today, the whole country is talking about vote theft. In the BJP, no one has the right to think and speak, but in Congress, everyone has the right to think and speak internally within the Congress. Our Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji are running the Congress by taking everyone along.'

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hit out at Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, saying that his own party MPs 'get uncomfortable' when he speaks in Parliament and are apprehensive that he will do 'anap-shanap baatein' and the party will have to bear the consequences.

Rijiju alleged that Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, 'does not listen to his own party members.'

'Rahul Gandhi kuch bolte hain, unke saare MPs bahot uncomfortable ho jaate hain. Wo darte hain ye anapshanap baatein karenge, uska khamiyaza party ko bhugatna padta hai...(When Rahul Gandhi speaks, his MPs get uncomfortable what nonsense he will speak, the party will have to bear its consequences,' he said. (ANI)