New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Monday strongly rejected Union Minister JP Nadda's demand for an apology from senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over alleged derogatory slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the mega rally organised by the Congress against alleged 'Vote Chori' in Delhi, dismissing the controversy as 'baseless drama' orchestrated by the BJP to divert attention from the opposition's successful protest at Ramlila Maidan.

Speaking to reporters, the Congress General Secretary said, 'This is baseless drama they have created today because we conducted a successful rally in Delhi yesterday. I asked Kiren Rijiju ji: Did any Congress leader say anything? They said some people in the rally had said it. This is baseless. It is not our custom to use unacceptable language against any political leader, even if they are our political rivals. On the other side, we can see the language Amit Shah ji used in Parliament last week. No leader, be it from the state level or the district level, would do any such thing.'

Venugopal's remarks came after Union Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi, holding her responsible as the senior-most leader of the Congress party.

Nadda said the slogans reflected the Congress party's 'thinking and mentality' and termed such remarks against a sitting Prime Minister as condemnable, holding Sonia Gandhi responsible as the party's senior-most leader.

On Sunday, Congress leader Manju Lata Meena, during a rally organised by the party against alleged 'vote chori,' had reportedly stated, 'Modi teri kabar khudegi, aaj nahin toh kal khudegi' (Modi, your grave will be dug soon, if not today, then tomorrow).

Meena defended her statement, claiming she was only expressing public anger over alleged vote rigging and accusing the Prime Minister of failing to address key issues.

'There is so much anger among the public regarding vote rigging. They (BJP) have formed these governments by rigging votes, and the Election Commission is also acting according to their instructions. He (PM Modi) doesn't talk about employment, youth, women, or farmers. He distracts from the issues,' Meena said. She is also the district president of the Jaipur Women's Congress. (ANI)