Mallikarjun Kharge Calls PM Modi A Terrorist, Then Clarifies; Read In Details

April 21, 2026

New Delhi : Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday sparked controversy when he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” while criticising the AIADMK for allying with the BJP for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. At a press conference in Chennai, Kharge 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.”

When asked to clarify his ‘terrorist’ jibe at PM Modi, Kharge alleged that PM Modi “terrorises” opponents because the central agencies were working hand-in-glove with the 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), he said. Modi Ji says, ‘I have a 56-inch chest’. Modi is a liar. He believes in Manusmriti and Chaturvana (four groups of Hindu society).

He stands for justice, equality and fraternity, he added. Union Minister Piyush Goyal slammed Kharge’s ‘terrorist’ remark on PM Modi and demanded an apology from him. We feel ashamed that the Congress has come down to such a level. They called a democratically-elected Prime Minister a terrorist. He has been elected by the people. He asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu won’t forgive Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and give them a befitting reply in the upcoming polls by voting for the AIADMK-BJP alliance.

Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai accused Kharge of using “dirty language” for PM Modi as the INDIA bloc will face a “huge defeat”. “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 calling 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.

“After coming to Tamil Nadu, Mallikarjun Kharge saw the ground. He knows INDIA bloc is in for a huge defeat. That is why, out of desperation, he is using this kind of language. Some politicians in India should retire at the earliest, and Mallikarjun Kharge, it suits him best,” he added. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya too didn’t hold back and accused the Congress of resorting to “abuse and vilification of India’s most popular leader instead of meaningful debate.”