Kharge is in trouble for calling the Prime Minister a ‘terrorist’: Election Commission issues notice

New Delhi : The Election Commission on Wednesday took “serious” cognizance of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” and issued a notice to him. Commission officials gave this information. They said that Kharge has been asked to clarify his stand within 24 hours.

This notice has been issued a day before voting in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the Congress president had criticized AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, calling the Prime Minister a “terrorist”.

However, when reporters pressed him to clarify the context of his remarks, the Congress president said he meant that the Prime Minister was “terrorizing” the democratic fabric of the country. The Congress President had said, “He (Modi) is terrorizing people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). This is intended to terrorize… He is misusing the power of his position and the government machinery and is abusing the opposition parties.” A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and demanded “strictest action” against Kharge.

This delegation included three Union ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sitharaman said, “Today we appeared before the Commission to draw its attention to the fact that an eminent person like the Congress President and the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha has used such condemnable words.”

The Finance Minister said that while addressing a press conference in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Kharge called the Prime Minister a “terrorist” which was “highly condemnable”. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was part of the delegation, termed Kharge’s remarks as a ‘disgusting act’. Rijiju told reporters, “We have demanded the strictest action.” We have also demanded that Kharge and Congress be directed to apologize to the country.