A major political controversy erupted after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist” during a press conference in Chennai, triggering a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The remarks, made while questioning the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, quickly drew condemnation from senior leaders of the ruling party, who accused the Congress of crossing all limits of political discourse.
Kharge’s Statement and Clarification
Kharge, while addressing the media alongside senior Congress leaders, said the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP was contradictory to Dravidian ideological values.
He said, “How can they join with Modi? He is a terrorist… His party won’t believe in equality and justice.”
However, amid backlash, Kharge later clarified that he did not intend to call the Prime Minister a terrorist in a literal sense.
“What I meant is that he is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist,” he said, alleging misuse of central agencies like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to pressure opposition leaders.
BJP Calls Remarks “Insult to Democracy”
Union Minister Piyush Goyal strongly criticised the statement, demanding an apology from the Congress leadership.
He said, “I feel ashamed that the Congress and DMK have stooped so low that they are insulting the democratically elected Prime Minister of India by calling him a terrorist.”
Goyal added that the remarks were not just an insult to the Prime Minister but also to “140 crore Indians” who elected him.
BJP Accuses Congress of “Deliberate Strategy”
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra called the statement part of a “planned strategy” to target the Prime Minister.
He said, “This is not a slip of tongue. It is a well thought-out Congress strategy to abuse and insult the Prime Minister.”
Patra further warned that voters would respond politically to such statements in upcoming elections.
Sharp Political Exchanges Continue
The controversy intensified as BJP leaders accused the Congress of repeatedly using abusive language against the Prime Minister.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also criticised the remarks, calling them “dangerous” and alleging that the opposition had crossed a line in political criticism.
Congress Stands by Allegations of “Misuse of Power”
Despite the backlash, Kharge maintained that his remarks were aimed at what he described as authoritarian behaviour.
He alleged that central agencies were being misused to intimidate opposition parties and said the Election Commission had become “an extension of the BJP office.”
