Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement calling Diwali an 'Eid of happiness' has become a cause of political controversy.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has expressed strong objection to Kharge's statement and accused Congress of doing appeasement politics and insulting the sentiments of Hindus.
At the same time, Congress defended Kharge and said that BJP leaders do not know the meaning of the word 'Eid'. Congress says that Kharge had used the word Eid as a 'festival' and 'symbol of happiness'.
Along with BJP, some of its allies have also strongly criticized Kharge's statement, while some allies of Congress have defended Kharge and said that there is nothing controversial in it.
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say?
In fact, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had wished the countrymen a happy Diwali while talking to the media on Saturday (November 7, 2026).
During this, he said, "I wish everyone a happy Diwali. This is a big festival of our India, which is celebrated by everyone. The only reason for this is that it is an Eid of happiness."
Kharge said, "This is what Eid is all about. It is a good festival for people to live peacefully and meet their people. It is important to maintain peace in the country. People who are fighting with each other or have misunderstandings should stay away from it. Everyone should work whole-heartedly to save the country and keep it united."
What did BJP say on Kharge's statement?
BJP targeted Congress regarding Kharge's statement. Party leaders alleged that Congress does not respect the sentiments of Hindus and does politics of Muslim appeasement.
Taking aim at Kharge, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that he is acting like the spokesperson of Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family.
Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "He (Kharge) is just a speaker of Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family... Kharge sir, your real face has been revealed. You are doing appeasement politics in this country. Nehru had divided the country and since then you have been doing appeasement politics, trying to divide Hindus and appeasing Muslims."
Giriraj Singh said, "When a bomb blast took place in Ghaziabad with the intention of ruining Diwali, you will not open your mouth on that. Good words will not come out of your tongue on Hindu festivals."
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia held a press conference on Monday and accused Congress of having 'anti-Hindu and Sanatan thinking'.
Gaurav Bhatia said, "Doing appeasement politics, disrespecting and insulting the sentiments of Hindu followers has now become the character of the Congress Party... Mallikarjun Kharge is carrying forward the anti-Hindu and Sanatan thinking of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi through his words."
Bhatia said that when people across the country were wishing Diwali, Kharge called it 'Eid of happiness'. He raised the question why the Congress President has so much difficulty in saying Diwali.
At the same time, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain also expressed displeasure over Kharge's statement. He said that if it was in Kharge's hands, he would have said 'Eid Mubarak' for vote bank politics on Diwali.
Shahnawaz Hussain said, "If Mallikarjun Kharge had his way, he would have said Eid Mubarak on Diwali in the name of vote bank greed. For the first time, I have heard that even on Diwali, he is calling it Eid. Congress is doing vote politics and when they give statements reluctantly on all the festivals of Sanatan Dharma, then such statements come out."
What did Shiv Sena and JDU leaders say?
On Kharge's comment, Shiv Sena spokesperson Anand Dubey said that it depends on each person's own sentiments as to how he sees which festival.
Talking to the media, he said, "The feeling remains the same, God sees the idol as it is. Some people see Diwali in Eid and some people see Eid in Diwali. This is one's own feeling."
Anand Dubey said, "You definitely go to Iftar party, we also respect everyone, but both festivals are different. Let Diwali be Diwali and Eid be Eid. Both have their own importance and their own followers. But say Happy Diwali, perhaps crores of Hindus and Sanatanis would have liked it."
At the same time, Janata Dal (United) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak said on Kharge's statement that many such statements of his have been coming to the fore earlier also.
He said, "Eid is also a cultural festival of India, in which people talk about love. Diwali is a festival of lights, which is a festival of love and harmony. Both the festivals have different meanings and ways. Such statements should not be made."
Congress replied to BJP, said- look at the meaning of Eid in the dictionary.
After criticism from BJP, Congress defended Kharge. Congress MP Pawan Kheda said that BJP leaders should take help of dictionary or Google to understand the meaning of the word Eid.
Talking to the media, he said, "Does anyone in BJP have a dictionary in their home? I am sure that they do not have it. But they do have mobile phones. Can they look up the meaning of Eid on Google? Eid means 'festival', 'festival' of Diwali, 'festival' of Holi. Kharge ji also meant the same."
Pawan Kheda, while targeting BJP leaders, said that the people sitting in the government are not able to understand the meaning of this word. He also advised BJP to prepare Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the debate with Rahul Gandhi instead of wasting time on the statements of Kharge and Congress.
After this, Pawan Kheda wrote on the social media platform
Congress leader Rashid Alvi also justified Kharge's statement. He said that the example of Eid is given on a happy occasion.
Rashid Alvi said, "When it comes to happiness, an example is given from Eid. Even if you meet someone after a long time, it is still said that you have become the moon of Eid. Other meanings of happiness are taken from Eid. If Kharge Saheb has said this then only a secular man can say it. We cannot even expect such things from BJP and communal people. Both Eid and Diwali It is a festival of happiness, but there is a difference that the air quality index is not increased during Eid."
RJD, TMC and NCP-SP said this
At the same time, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha also criticized BJP. He said that the word 'Eid' should also be understood as a symbol of happiness.
Manoj Jha told news agency ANI, "Just think about where this country has been taken. In general conversation, don't we often say that there is so much happiness, today Diwali has happened. Whereas the actual Diwali does not happen. Look at the word 'Eid' as a symbol. They have divided this country into good wishes and congratulations. If someone uses the word 'Mubarakbad' wrongly or rightly, then immediately a question arises. 'Where did this Urdu word come from?' I think BJP needs to introspect on what you are doing?... You have taken the thinking and understanding of this country to a bad slope."
NCP-SP spokesperson Clyde Crasto described BJP's reaction to Kharge's statement as politically motivated. He said that India is a secular country, where people of different religions and communities participate in each other's festivals.
Crasto said, "Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians all celebrate their festivals and people of other religions also join in these joys."
Accusing BJP of doing politics on every issue, he said that the party should stop making statements in the name of religion.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Majeed Memon also supported Kharge's statement. He said that India is a big country and its history is very old. Both Hindu and Muslim communities live here and Diwali and Eid are among the major festivals of the country.
Majeed Memon said, "It is not right for BJP leaders to comment on such statements or call them wrong. India is a big country and its history is very old. There are two big communities living here, in which after the Hindu community, the Muslim community has a large population. Due to the large Muslim population, both Diwali and Eid are big festivals of India. If a person like Mallikarjun Kharge makes such a statement, then there is nothing wrong at all in it."
CPI leader D Raja also criticized BJP's reaction to Kharge's statement.
He told news agency PTI, "Kharge is not an ordinary person, but the Congress president and a senior politician. Does BJP think that he makes any statement without thinking?"
