Mallikarjun Kharge gets EC's notice over 'terrorist' remark against PM
BJP accused the Congress of violating the model code of conduct and complained against Kharge to the poll body. Following that, the Election Commission took a quick action.
Taking a serious note of his actions, the Election Commission of India (ECI) served a notice to the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his alleged insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The veteran Congressman ignited a political storm by allegedly calling PM Modi a 'terrorist' in a press conference in Tamil Nadu, which is heading to the assembly polls on April 23.
"The use of intemperate, highly objectionable, and dehumanising choice of words by a seasoned politician against a constitutional functionary appears to be not only inconsistent with the standards of public discourse but also undermines the dignity of democratic institutions," the poll body wrote in his notice to Kharge.
Kharge, a day before, while launching a blistering attack against the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, said: "How can they (AIADMK) join with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he won't believe in equality. His party won't believe in equality and justice. These people are joining them. It means that they are weakening democracy."
The comment immediately drew the BJP's ire and triggered a massive controversy, not only in the state but also across the nation. Several BJP leaders lashed out at the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
As the controversy spread like wildfire, Kharge soon clarified that he had used the remark to indicate that PM Modi terrorises the opposition with the use of central agencies. He also accused the central agencies of working hand-in-glove with the ruling BJP.
"I wanted to clarify that PM Modi always threatens (us). I told you that the Income Tax Department, ED and other institutions are in his hands. I never said he’s a terrorist. He’s terrorising (us)," Kharge further mentioned.
BJP ALLEGES VIOLATION OF MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
Following the remark, the BJP accused Kharge and the Congress party of violating the model code of conduct ahead of the election in Tamil Nadu.
A delegation team, comprising Union Ministers and several other BJP leaders, met the Election Commission on Wednesday against the remark.
The poll body also mentioned in the notice that the issue was brought to them by the office bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"In the complaint received, it has further been alleged that the aforementioned statement of Shri Kharge has violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the relevant provisions of BNS, 2023," the notice read.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders Piyush Goyal, Amit Malviya, and Annamalai slammed Kharge for his remarks.
"We feel ashamed that Congress has come down to such a level. They called a democratically elected Prime Minister a terrorist. He has been elected by the people. I strongly condemn Kharge's statement and demand an apology from him for insulting him and the people of our country," Goyal said.
Annamalai, on the other hand, claimed that Kharge's comments were nothing but a reflection of the fact that the DMK-led alliance is going to suffer a defeat in Tamil Nadu.
"Unfortunately, a senior politician, a leader of the Congress party, which has got a lineage of its own, chose to use very dirty language and bring indignity to the office of the Prime Minister, and straightaway called PM Modi a terrorist. Now, the minimum we are seeking is that Mallikarjun Kharge should issue a public apology and seek people's forgiveness," he said.
Taking a serious note of his actions, the Election Commission of India (ECI) served a notice to the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his alleged insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The veteran Congressman ignited a political storm by allegedly calling PM Modi a 'terrorist' in a press conference in Tamil Nadu, which is heading to the assembly polls on April 23.
"The use of intemperate, highly objectionable, and dehumanising choice of words by a seasoned politician against a constitutional functionary appears to be not only inconsistent with the standards of public discourse but also undermines the dignity of democratic institutions," the poll body wrote in his notice to Kharge.
Kharge, a day before, while launching a blistering attack against the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, said: "How can they (AIADMK) join with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he won't believe in equality. His party won't believe in equality and justice. These people are joining them. It means that they are weakening democracy."
The comment immediately drew the BJP's ire and triggered a massive controversy, not only in the state but also across the nation. Several BJP leaders lashed out at the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
As the controversy spread like wildfire, Kharge soon clarified that he had used the remark to indicate that PM Modi terrorises the opposition with the use of central agencies. He also accused the central agencies of working hand-in-glove with the ruling BJP.
"I wanted to clarify that PM Modi always threatens (us). I told you that the Income Tax Department, ED and other institutions are in his hands. I never said he’s a terrorist. He’s terrorising (us)," Kharge further mentioned.
BJP ALLEGES VIOLATION OF MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
Following the remark, the BJP accused Kharge and the Congress party of violating the model code of conduct ahead of the election in Tamil Nadu.
A delegation team, comprising Union Ministers and several other BJP leaders, met the Election Commission on Wednesday against the remark.
The poll body also mentioned in the notice that the issue was brought to them by the office bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"In the complaint received, it has further been alleged that the aforementioned statement of Shri Kharge has violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the relevant provisions of BNS, 2023," the notice read.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders Piyush Goyal, Amit Malviya, and Annamalai slammed Kharge for his remarks.
"We feel ashamed that Congress has come down to such a level. They called a democratically elected Prime Minister a terrorist. He has been elected by the people. I strongly condemn Kharge's statement and demand an apology from him for insulting him and the people of our country," Goyal said.
Annamalai, on the other hand, claimed that Kharge's comments were nothing but a reflection of the fact that the DMK-led alliance is going to suffer a defeat in Tamil Nadu.
"Unfortunately, a senior politician, a leader of the Congress party, which has got a lineage of its own, chose to use very dirty language and bring indignity to the office of the Prime Minister, and straightaway called PM Modi a terrorist. Now, the minimum we are seeking is that Mallikarjun Kharge should issue a public apology and seek people's forgiveness," he said.
