New Delhi: A high-level delegation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, to file a formal complaint against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The complaint stems from a speech delivered by Kharge on the final day of the election campaign in Tamil Nadu, where he allegedly referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist who does not believe in equality.” The BJP has termed this a “dangerous and unprecedented attack” on democratic institutions and a blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The delegation, which included Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, and Arjun Ram Meghwal, expressed deep “anguish and outrage” over the remarks. Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking after the meeting, stated that while the party is committed to eliminating actual terrorists under the Prime Minister’s leadership, it seeks the strictest possible action from the Election Commission against the Congress chief. The BJP has officially requested the poll body to book Kharge under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to criminal intimidation and public mischief. Additionally, the party has demanded that social media platforms be ordered to take down the “offensive” post containing the remark.
Following the initial backlash, Mallikarjun Kharge issued a clarification, stating that his comments were misinterpreted. He claimed that he did not call the Prime Minister a terrorist in the literal sense, but rather intended to say that the Prime Minister is “terrorising” the political opposition and the democratic fabric of the country by misusing central agencies like the ED and CBI. However, the BJP dismissed this clarification, with Home Minister Amit Shah asserting that such language brings “shame to the nation” and insulting the Prime Minister is an insult to the millions who support him. The Election Commission has reportedly taken cognizance of the matter and assured the delegation of a thorough investigation.
