Kharge sparks row over ‘terrorist’ remark on PM Modi, later clarifies

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge kicked up a storm on Tuesday (April 21) by calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a terrorist.” The Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, who was speaking to reporters in Chennai, made the controversial remarks in relation to the Women's Reservation Bill and the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, referring to PM Modi as 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,” said Kharge.

“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 added.

Clarifies afterwards

However, the Congress veteran backtracked and clarified his earlier remark when questioned by journalists over his choice of words and claimed that he never referred to PM Modi as “a terrorist” but only said that the Prime Minister was “terrorising” the people and the Opposition parties.

Also Read: Kharge says Congress opposed delimitation, not Women’s Quota Bill, slams Modi

"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," said Kharge.

Criticism over women’s rights stance

Lashing out at the BJP, Kharge accused the ruling party at the Centre, of lacking credibility on women’s rights. “Now, the Women's Welfare Bill, how ironic that the BJP, RSS… are talking about women's welfare,” he said, invoking what he called the party’s ideological roots.

Also Read: Opposition backs women’s quota, opposes delimitation move: Kharge

He pointed to Parliament’s recent record to counter the government’s claims. “We passed the women's reservation bill in 2023. The Prime Minister himself thanked the opposition… and now PM is lying that the opposition defeated the bill,” Kharge said.

“Today, he is misleading everyone. If he truly intends to implement it, he can provide 33 per cent reservation…,” he added, while assuring “the sisters and daughters of Tamil Nadu” of his support.

Congress defends Kharge

Reacting to the development, Congress leader KC Venugopal argued that Kharge only wanted to say that PM Modi was terrorising the people by using the Central agencies.

"They (BJP) will try to make a non-issue become an issue... Prime Minister Modi is trying to terrorise people by using ED and the CBI. That's what Mallikarjun Kharge said. You also know all these camera tricks. They are using only that particular clip... And Kharge himself clarified that he does not call PM Modi a 'terrorist'... then why BJP targeting him? That's an unwanted thing," said Venugopal.

Electoral pitch ahead of polls

Shifting to the upcoming polls, he backed the Congress alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. “BJP's hidden agenda is… to interfere in state matters,” he said, cautioning voters against “this trap” and warning that smaller players could “divide the secular vote.”

Tamil Nadu votes on April 23; counting is set for May 4.