Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge sparked a political row on Tuesday when he described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist”, a statement he later clarified as accusing the prime minister of “terrorising” political parties.
The controversial statement drew strong condemnation from BJP leaders, who described the comment as an “insult” not only to Modi but to 1.4 billion Indians. The BJP also complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that the comment was defamatory and violated the Model Code of Conduct.
The dispute erupted on the last day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, hours after holding a roadshow to drum up support for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, Karg made the remarks while criticizing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance with the BJP.
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“How are these people from AIADMK, who put up the picture themselves, doing? [former chief minister CN] Annadurai.. How can they join Modi? He’s a terrorist. He will not believe in equality. His party will not believe in equality and justice. And these people join them, which means they weaken democracy, they weaken the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamarajar, [EV Ramaswamy] Periyar, Kalaignar [late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi] Kharg said: And Baba Sahib Ambedkar.
However, when reporters at the press conference asked him about his remarks, Kharge said he meant that the Prime Minister was “terrorizing” the democratic fabric of the country. He added, “He terrorizes people and political parties. I never said he was a terrorist. He terrorizes this… He abuses his authority and government mechanisms and insults and slanders opposition parties.”
Karji’s remarks drew strong condemnation from senior BJP leaders, with Union Minister Piyush Goyal demanding an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin “for this blatant insult to the people of India”.
“I am ashamed that the Congress and the DMK have stooped so low that they are insulting the Prime Minister, who was democratically elected by the people of India, by calling him a terrorist,” Goyal said on X programme.
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“They not only insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi who we all elected and is the leader of the largest democracy in the world…but they insulted Rs 140 crore,” added Goyal, election in-charge of Tamil Nadu BJP. [1.4 billion] Indians, they have insulted 8 crore (80 million) brothers and sisters of Tamil Nadu…”
The BJP has filed a complaint with ECI against Karg, alleging that the Congress president violated the model code of conduct and demanded registration of a case against him under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. They also asked for an apology from those who came out and to retract his statements.
“The words chosen by Congress president Mallikarjun Karge for Prime Minister Modi today are not only condemnable but also reflect the mindset of the Congress party. Karge has called him a terrorist,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
The Lok Sabha MP from Odisha refused to clarify Kharge and alleged that the Congress president deliberately called the Prime Minister a terrorist at the behest of Rahul Gandhi.
“This was not a slip of the tongue. It is deliberate. Even though they are providing a clarification, it is a deliberate conspiracy by the Congress,” Batra said in a video message.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal defended Karji over his remarks on Modi, alleging that the BJP is trying to “make non-issue” an issue.
“They (BJP) will try to turn any non-issue into a problem… PM Modi is trying to terrorize people using ED and CBI. This is what Mallikarjun Karg said. You also know all these camera tricks. They are using this very clip… Karg himself clarified that he is not calling PM Modi a ‘terrorist’.. so why is the BJP targeting him, which is not desirable,” Karg himself explained.
(With agency input)
