Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Congress party of repeatedly using “abusive language” against the Prime Minister. The sharp exchange has further intensified the political war of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress during the ongoing election season.
The controversy erupted after Kharge made comments at a public event that were widely interpreted by BJP leaders as referring to Prime Minister Modi as a “terrorist.” The remark triggered immediate backlash from the ruling party, with Sitharaman calling it “atrocious” and describing it as yet another example of the Congress lowering the level of political discourse in the country.
Sitharaman said such statements were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern, alleging that the Congress has repeatedly resorted to personal attacks rather than engaging in constructive political debate. She defended the Prime Minister and said the opposition’s language reflects “frustration” and a lack of substantive issues to raise against the government.
The BJP also escalated the matter by urging the Election Commission to take strict action against Kharge, calling the remark one of the “gravest possible imputations in public life” and a violation of democratic norms, especially during elections.
Facing mounting criticism, Kharge later issued a clarification, stating that his comments had been misinterpreted. He denied directly calling the Prime Minister a terrorist and instead accused Modi of using threatening language in his speeches. However, the clarification did little to calm the political storm, with BJP leaders continuing to attack the Congress over the issue.
The controversy has drawn reactions from other senior leaders as well. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan criticised Kharge, saying such remarks blur the distinction between terrorism and actions taken against it, and warned that irresponsible statements could harm public discourse.
This latest episode highlights the increasingly heated rhetoric dominating Indian politics, particularly in the run-up to elections. With both sides trading sharp accusations, the incident is likely to remain a major flashpoint in the ongoing political debate.
