BJP Files Strong Complaint Against Congress President Over PM Modi 'Terrorist' Remark

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a robust complaint with the Election Commission against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. This complaint addresses Kharge's controversial comment labeling Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'terrorist' during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign.

In a letter shared on X, signed by Kiren Rijiju, BJP National General Secretary Arun Singh, and leader Om Pathak, the BJP accuses Kharge of a grave breach of the Model Code of Conduct. The remark, as claimed by the BJP, poses a significant threat to the democratic fabric and the standards of civil discourse.

The BJP further claims that calling a prominent political leader a terrorist not only amounts to extreme personal vilification but also deviates from the etiquette of issue-based criticism. The party emphasizes that the statement violates several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, particularly citing Sections 175 and 356(1) related to false statements and defamation.

Furthermore, the BJP asserts that the use of 'criminal-terror terminology' distorts voter choice through fear tactics, rather than legitimate persuasion. The BJP urges the Election Commission to mandate a public apology and retraction from Kharge, along with the immediate removal of the controversial statement from all media outlets.

Kharge's comment emerged amid the final stages of the election campaign in Tamil Nadu, drawing criticism for his comparison of Modi to a terrorist. Kharge later clarified his statement, suggesting that his intention was to highlight Modi's intimidation of political rivals through governmental agencies. However, this has not mitigated the BJP's request for corrective action.