Mallikarjun Kharge calls PM Narendra Modi ‘terrorist’, sparks political storm

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday triggered a controversy by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist”, though he later clarified that he meant to convey that the PM was “terrorising people and political opponents”.

The BJP termed it an "insult" to the people of India and demanded an apology from the Congress. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called the Congress an “urban Naxal formation” and said such language had been used repeatedly against the PM.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal sought an apology and said the statement insulted the PM and the electorate.

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Kharge made the remarks during a press conference in Chennai as he criticised the AIADMK for its alliance with the BJP in Tamil Nadu. “He (PM) is a terrorist. His party does not believe in equality and justice,” he said. He subsequently clarified that he meant the PM “terrorised” political opponents and parties, and that the statement should be read in that context.

The Congress president said there was “pressure on opposition parties and institutions, referring to agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department and the CBI”. He said attempts to take control of processes like delimitation reflected the same pattern.

Kharge said the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP “went against the principles” of leaders such as CN Annadurai, K Kamaraj, EV Ramasamy Periyar, M Karunanidhi and BR Ambedkar, and that such a move “weakened the ideas of equality and social justice”.

He said the Congress-DMK alliance would continue to focus on welfare, inclusive growth, education and healthcare. Addressing a public meeting in Velachery, he said Tamil Nadu was facing unfair treatment from the Centre, citing reduced allocations and delays in releasing funds for schemes such as Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, along with inadequate disaster relief.