BJP lodges complaint with EC over Kharge's 'terrorist' remark against PM Modi

NEW DELHI: A high-level delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday met the Election Commission over Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju stated that no political party has ever touched that level of disrespect as Congress. Rijiju added that the delegation demanded the EC to take "strict action" and asked the Congress President to apologize to the country.

"A high-level delegation, including senior ministers, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, me, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal met with the Election Commission. We addressed the derogatory language used by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge against the Prime Minister. It is a national issue, a democratic issue. Calling the Prime Minister a terrorist is a crime," Rijiju said.

"No political party has ever used such abusive language against the Prime Minister. We have requested the Commission that if any political party in the country uses such language, it is not our party's or the government's business, but a despicable act against democracy and weakens it in many ways. We demanded that strict action must be taken and that Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress Party, apologize to the people of the country," he added.

Rijiju also said that all terrorists shall be eliminated under the PM's leadership, while the Congress will be punished by the people. "The Election Commission, after listening to us, has said that they will take appropriate action. We have full confidence in it," the Union minister said.

"The investigation that EC has to do is different. But the terrorist who fight against our country will be finished under the leadership of same PM Modi, who has been called a terrorist. The public will punish the Congress, as PM Modi will punish the terrorists," Rijiju affirmed.

Earlier on Tuesday, BJP filed a "strong complaint" against Kharge alleging that the statement made during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign by Kharge is a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

"We have filed a strong complaint against Congress President Shri @kharge ji for his shocking and disgraceful remark calling Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji a "terrorist." This is not just derogatory, it is a dangerous & unprecedented attack on democratic institutions. A blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Immediate action is non-negotiable," Rijiju posted on X.

The party argued that the remark has been widely circulated across digital and print media, carrying a "substantial potential to vitiate the electoral atmosphere" and undermining the standards of civil discourse.

This comes after Kharge courted controversy on the last day of the election campaign in Tamil Nadu. Highlighting opposition unity during the defeat of the Delimitation Bill, which had also been linked to the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, the Congress President criticised the AIADMK for supporting the BJP and labelled PM Modi a 'terrorist who does not believe in equality.'

"I also thank the Tamil Nadu people who have given MPs to us, that's why we were able to fight and defeat the bill. This is the land of scientific thinking and ideals of Periyar, Dr. Ambedkar, Annadurai, great Kamaraj and Karunanidhi. These people stood for this women's reservation, justice, equality, and fraternity. Modi is not for these principles and one more thing I want to tell how this AIADMK people who themselves put the photo of Annadurai, how can they join with Modi who is a terrorist and who won't believe in equality, his party won't believe in equality and justice and these people are joining with them, it means that they are weakening democracy, they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar and Karunanidhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Congress-DMK alliance will continue to deliver welfare, inclusive growth, quality education and accessible healthcare," he said.

When questioned on the choice of words, Kharge quickly defended himself, claiming that he meant to say that the PM was terrorising his political opponents.

"He (PM Modi) is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist...What I mean, I want to clarify, is that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. He wants to take delimitation also into his hands," Kharge said.