BJP Meets EC, Seeks Action Against Kharge Over ‘Terrorist’ Remark on PM
New Delhi: A BJP delegation of three Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, approached the Election Commission on Wednesday, demanding “strictest action” against Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge for his “terrorist” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sitharaman said, “Today, we appeared before the full committee to inform them that no one except the Congress president and the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha had spoken in such condemnable words.
The finance minister termed the Congress chief’s remarks as “outrageous”, stating that Kharge chose to call the chief minister a “terrorist” at a press conference in Tamil Nadu, an poll-bound state.
“This is an insult to the mandate given (to Prime Minister Modi) by the people of India. More importantly, it is an insult to the entire system where people elect their leaders through elections and once elected they become the leaders of the entire country,” Sitharaman said.
He also alleged that the Congress was “completely frustrated” and made such statements against the prime minister due to its “deep hatred” for Modi during the assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
“We demanded that the Election Commission handle the issue seriously. We demanded that the ballot box committee act decisively and harshly,” he said.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was part of the delegation, called the statement a “disgusting act” by Kharge.
“We have demanded strictest action. We have also demanded that Kharge and the Congress be directed to apologize to the country,” Rijiju told reporters.
He said the Commission held a patient hearing with the BJP delegation and assured them that “appropriate measures” would be taken in the matter.
Senior leader of the BJP said, “The Election Commission should take such a step in this regard that no one dares to call the prime minister of the country a terrorist. Everyone should learn a lesson. We hope that the Election Commission will definitely take action.” he said.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and BJP national general secretary Arun Singh were also part of the delegation.
The development comes after Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi of terrorizing political parties and people by misusing government machinery and central institutions to suppress dissent.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the Congress chief initially referred to the chief minister as a “terrorist” while criticizing the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP.
However, when pressed by journalists to reveal the content of this statement, the Congress chief said he meant that the prime minister was “terrorising” the democratic fabric of the country.
“He terrorizes people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (literally). He abuses his power and government machinery and harasses and slanders opposition parties,” Kharge said. he said.
The BJP on Tuesday had urged the Election Commission to immediately take note of Kharge’s remarks and direct the Congress chief to submit a public apology.
A notice sent to the poll panel demanded that “appropriate criminal and regulatory proceedings” be initiated against Kharge and “appropriate campaign restrictions” be imposed on him for statements he made under various sections of BNS.
The BJP also said that their delegation comprising Sitharaman, Rijiju and Meghwal will meet the EC on Wednesday to raise the issue.
