The Election Commission of India on Wednesday took seriously the “terrorist” remark made by Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and issued a show-cause notice on the issue.
This development comes after a BJP delegation comprising three Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, approached the poll body earlier in the day, demanding “strict action” against the Congress president over the remark.
On Tuesday, Congress leader Karg sparked a row after he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist” while criticizing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for aligning with him. The Congress leader later clarified the remarks.
These statements led to a major political row with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which described Kharge’s comment as an “insult” not only to Modi but to 1.4 billion Indians.
What did he say?
Karg, while addressing reporters in Chennai, questioned the AIADMK’s decision to join hands with the BJP and asked: “How can AIADMK members, who have themselves created the image of Annadurai, join Modi? He is a terrorist. His party will not believe in equality and justice. These people are joining them; it means they are weakening democracy.”
“You need leaders who will not bow down to the BJP and will stand and fight, and that is MK Stalin. Today, the AIADMK has lost its identity. It has become a silent partner of the BJP. It cannot protect the interests of Tamil Nadu, as it has become a slave of PM Modi,” he added.
The Congress president later clarified his statement, saying that he did not mean to call the Prime Minister a “terrorist” but meant that he “always terrorizes” people and political parties.
