Kharge calls PM Modi ‘terrorist’, clarifies remarks after BJP backlash
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday sparked a political row after calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist,” before later clarifying that he meant the Prime Minister was “terrorising people and political parties.”
Speaking at a press conference while criticising the AIADMK’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Tamil Nadu polls, Kharge said, “How can they join Modi? He is a terrorist,” accusing the ruling party of not believing in equality and justice.
When asked to explain the remark, Kharge said he had been misunderstood. “He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist,” he said, adding that institutions like the ED, Income Tax Department, and CBI were being used to pressure opponents.
The remarks drew swift criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of using abusive language. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called the Congress an “Urban Naxal party” and alleged a pattern of “venomous rhetoric.”
Union Minister Piyush Goyal also condemned the statement, calling it an insult to a democratically elected Prime Minister and demanding an apology from Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin.
Kharge’s comments came days after Modi criticised the Congress and its allies over the defeat of the Women’s Reservation Bill, accusing them of undermining efforts to advance women’s representation.
