BJP escalates its protest over Kharge’s remark on PM Modi, approaching the Election Commission and demanding both strict action and a public apology amid intensifying political rhetoric.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju speaks to reporters as BJP leaders meet the Election Commission in New Delhi over Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi | ANI video grab
A senior Bharatiya Janata Party delegation on Wednesday approached the Election Commission of India, urging it to act against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his controversial remark describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist”.
The complaint comes at a politically sensitive time, with sharp exchanges dominating campaign rhetoric. The BJP has framed Kharge’s comment as crossing a line, arguing it goes beyond political criticism and strikes at the dignity of the Prime Minister’s office.
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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was part of the delegation along with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, said the party met the poll panel with “grief and anger”.
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“Today, a high level delegation of BJP met with the Election Commission. We have met the EC with grief and anger because normally we meet the EC for election process related work but today our delegation went for the derogatory remarks made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is not a BJP issue but an issue for the entire nation. Calling the PM of the country, a terrorist, you can understand the level of low the Congress has touched in terms of respecting an individual and the democracy. I don’t think any political party has ever used such insulting remarks against a PM,” he stated.
Rijiju said the delegation has asked the Election Commission to initiate “strict action” and demanded that Kharge apologise to the nation.
Sharpening his attack, Rijiju said the Prime Minister represents the entire country and not just a political party.
“The PM is not just a party’s PM but a country’s PM. He has been elected as the PM of the world’s largest democracy. Congress has often made derogatory remarks against PM, whether its vile, poisonous snake, commander-in-chief, and what not. But today they crossed all boundaries. PM Narendra Modi is considered as a global leader and the ideal of democracy. We have requested the EC that if any political party uses such language, then it is not a BJP issue, but a cheap tactic in the democracy. We have thus, asked for a strict action on this and also that Kharge should apologise to the entire nation. So that no one dares to disrespect the PM of the country and that in the presence of EC, no political party can make such remarks,” he added.
According to Rijiju, the Election Commission has acknowledged the complaint and indicated that the matter will be examined.
“The EC has taken cognisance of the matter. We have been assured that an investigation will be done in the matter,” he said.
Rijiju also drew a sharp political line, asserting that the government under Modi would continue to act firmly against terrorism while voters would respond to the Congress politically.
“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,” he said.
The controversy traces back to Kharge’s speech on the final day of campaigning in Tamil Nadu, where he criticised the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP and made pointed remarks about the Prime Minister.
“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,” Kharge had said.
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