The BRICS TimesCongress president Mallikarjun Kharge stirred major political controversy after referring to PM Modi as a “terrorist” at a campaign event in Tamil Nadu. The Election Commission took serious note of the remark and issued a formal notice to him, while the BJP demanded a public apology and called it a gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Kharge sparks political storm with “terrorist” remark against PM Modi
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge landed in a serious political storm. He called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” during a campaign rally in Tamil Nadu. The remark came on the final day of campaigning ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. It triggered an immediate and fierce backlash from the ruling BJP and its leaders across the country.
The Election Commission of India took strong note of the statement. It issued a formal notice to Kharge, treating the matter as a potential violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The poll body’s swift action reflected the gravity with which the remark was viewed.
Kharge quickly tries to clarify his words after backlash
After the uproar, Kharge defended himself and tried to explain his words. Speaking to reporters, he said:
“I did not speak against the PM. PM is terrorising politicians, candidates and regarding this, I said that tax terrorism is happening, ED is conducting raids, Income Tax Dept is conducting raids, CBI is conducting raids…this terrorism is being faced by all.”
He further clarified his stand by saying:
“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.”
Despite this, the BJP refused to accept the explanation and insisted the damage had already been done.
BJP files formal complaint, calls it a Model Code violation
The BJP moved swiftly. Union Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju filed a strong formal complaint with the Election Commission. He posted on X:
“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.”
The BJP’s complaint was co-signed by National General Secretary Arun Singh and party leader Om Pathak. The party argued that using criminal-terror language was an attempt to distort voter choice through fear and demonisation rather than lawful persuasion.
BJP demands apology, says remark insults 140 crore Indians
Union Minister Piyush Goyal also lashed out at Kharge and his Congress-DMK alliance partners. He called the remark a “new low” in India’s political history. Goyal said:
“I feel ashamed that the Congress party and Stalin’s DMK party have come to such a low level. They’ve stooped to this low level that a democratically elected Prime Minister, elected by the people of India, is being called a terrorist. I strongly condemn Kharge’s statement. I demand an apology from both the partners, Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin, for this downright insult of the people of India.”
He went further and added that the remark was not just an attack on Modi personally. It was, he said, an insult to all 140 crore Indians and the 8 crore people of Tamil Nadu.
Sambit Patra calls it a “deliberate conspiracy” by Congress
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra came out strongly against the remark. He rejected any possibility of an accidental slip of tongue. Patra said:
“This is not only condemnable but also reflects the Congress party’s mindset. This is no slip of tongue. Even if he is offering any explanation, remember this is a deliberate conspiracy by the Congress party… Every day, Rahul Gandhi uses abusive language against the Prime Minister in his speeches, and today, at Rahul’s behest, Mallikarjun Kharge called the Prime Minister a terrorist.”
He also brought up the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary and attacked the Congress by saying:
“Today, we are in that period where we are mourning the victims of Pahalgam. One year has passed. They are the ones who give a clean chit to terrorists, and yet the elected Prime Minister is called a terrorist… This was not a slip of the tongue. No clarification will work. This has been done at the behest of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.”
BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit chief Annamalai joins the chorus
Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai also condemned the remark sharply. He accused Kharge of using desperate language because of fear of electoral defeat. Annamalai said:
“Unfortunately, the senior politician, a leader of the Congress party, which has got a lineage of its own, choosing to use a very dirty language, choosing to bring indignity to the office of the Prime Minister and straight away calling PM Modi as a terrorist…”
He added:
“The minimum we are seeking is that Mallikarjun Kharge should issue a public apology and seek people’s forgiveness… After coming to Tamil Nadu, Mallikarjun Kharge has seen the ground reality. He knows INDIA alliance is in for a huge defeat. That is why, out of desperation, he is using this kind of language…”
Congress defends Kharge, says BJP is blowing things out of proportion
Not all reactions were critical. Congress and its allies stood firmly behind Kharge. DMK MP Kanimozhi backed the core of Kharge’s argument. She said:
“Yes, there are raids. They (BJP) use Income Tax, CBI, and ED against their opposition parties. This has been their style of functioning.”
Congress leader KC Venugopal defended Kharge and called BJP’s outrage a deliberate distraction. He said:
“They (BJP) will try to make a non-issue become an issue… Prime Minister Modi is trying to terrorise people by using the ED and the CBI. That’s what Mallikarjun Kharge said.”
Tamil Nadu elections add heat to the political battle
Tamil Nadu went to polls on April 23 with counting scheduled for May 4. The remark came at a particularly sensitive time. The Congress-DMK alliance faced the BJP-AIADMK combine in a tightly contested election. Political observers noted that the controversy gave BJP fresh ammunition to campaign against the opposition in the final hours before voting.
The Election Commission’s notice to Kharge now adds an official and formal dimension to this political dispute. Whether Kharge will issue a public apology or double down on his original explanation remains to be seen.
