The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday took serious note of a comment made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a high-level BJP delegation filed a complaint seeking action.
The notice reads, "Whereas, the Commission is prima facie of the opinion that Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also a Star campaigner of the Indian National Congress in the General Election to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, has violated the aforesaid provisions of the MCC and relevant instructions issued by the Commission brought out at para 9 and 11 respectively...The Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your stand in respect of the above within 24 hours from the issuance of this notice. Take notice that in the event of no response from your side within the time limit stipulated, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say in the matter and the Election Commission will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to you"
BJP delegation files complaint against Kharge
Earlier in the day, the BJP delegation comprising three Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, approached the Election Commission, demanding "strictest action" against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his "terrorist" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sitharaman said, "Today, we appeared before the full commission to bring to its notice that no less a person than the president of the Congress and the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha has spoken in such condemnable words.”
BJP terms Kharge’s remark ‘outrageous’
Kharge chose to call the prime minister a "terrorist" while addressing a press conference in Tamil Nadu, an election-bound state, the finance minister said, terming the Congress chief's remark "outrageous".
"It's an insult to the mandate given by the people of India (to Prime Minister Modi). More importantly, it is an insult to the entire system where people choose their leader through elections, and once chosen, he is the leader for the entire country," Sitharaman said.
She also alleged that the Congress is "completely frustrated" and making such remarks against the prime minister amid assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal because of its "deep hatred" towards Modi.
"We have demanded that the Election Commission take the matter in all seriousness. We requested the poll panel to act firmly and sternly," she said.
Kiren Rijiju demands public apology from Kharge
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was also part of the delegation, termed the remark a "disgusting act" by Kharge. "We have demanded the strictest action. We have also demanded that Kharge and the Congress be directed to apologise to the country," Rijiju told reporters.
He said the Commission gave a patient hearing to the BJP delegation and assured that it will take "appropriate action" in the matter. "The Election Commission should take such action in the matter that nobody ever dares to call the country's prime minister a terrorist. Everyone should learn a lesson.We hope the Election Commission will definitely take action," the senior BJP leader said. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and BJP national general secretary Arun Singh were also part of the delegation.
Kharge accuses PM Modi of terrorising political parties
The development followed after Kharge accused Prime Minister Modi of terrorising political parties and people by misusing government machinery and central agencies to stifle the opposition.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the Congress chief initially referred to the prime minister as a "terrorist" while criticising the AIADMK's alliance with the BJP. However, when pressed by reporters to clarify the context of the remark, the Congress chief said he meant the prime minister was "terrorising" the democratic fabric of the country.
Kharge issues clarification on terrorist remarks
"He is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist (in the literal sense). He is misusing his power and government machinery and abusing and maligning opposition parties," Kharge said.
