New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge stirred controversy on Tuesday after calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” while attacking the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Kharge questioned AIADMK’s decision to support PM Modi. “How these AIADMK people, who themselves put the photo of Annadurai, how can they join Modi? He is a terrorist. His party won’t believe in equality and justice. These people are joining with them; it means they are weakening democracy.”
Attack on AIADMK and BJP
Kharge also praised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and criticised AIADMK’s political position. “You need leaders who will not bow before the BJP and will stand up and fight, that is MK Stalin. Today, AIADMK has lost its identity. It has become a silent-slave partner of the BJP. It cannot protect Tamil Nadu’s interest, because it has become a slave of PM Modi,” he added.
Clarification after backlash
Following criticism, Kharge clarified that he did not intend to call PMModi as a terrorist. He said his comment referred to alleged political pressure tactics. “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,” he said.
Allegations on code violation
Kharge also accused PM Modi of violating the Model Code of Conduct. He said the Prime Minister addressed the nation after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 failed in Parliament. He alleged bias by the Election Commission.
“The violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Prime Minister in the middle of the election is completely unacceptable. The Election Commission has acted like an extension of the BJP’s office. First, we saw alleged manipulation of voter lists, then the SIR issue, and now there were attempts to control delimitation—which we opposed.”
He also questioned why the bill was not implemented earlier. “Unfortunately, Modi is presenting a different narrative. He claims that, instead of opposing the failed delimitation bill, the party is opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill. This is not true. The Women’s Reservation Bill was passed in 2023, and we fully supported it. At the time, he even thanked us for that support.”
BJP hits back
The Bharatiya Janata Party reacted sharply. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised Kharge in a post on X.
“Afzal Yakub & Naxals are innocent. But for Congress – Chaiwala OBC PM is terrorist, RSS is poisonous snake, Sanatan is Disease. This is Cong ki Sanvidhan virodhi Nafrati dukaan.They are giving clean chit to Jihad & abusing elected PM. 175 abuses so far.”
The exchange has intensified political tensions ahead of elections.