BJP protests Kharge’s ‘terrorist’ remark against PM Modi, demands apology
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka BJP on Thursday staged a protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha, condemning AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge’s “terrorist” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and demanded that he apologise to the country.
The protest was led by state BJP President B Y Vijayendra, Leaders of Opposition in the Assembly and Council R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, and several party legislators and leaders.
Holding placards, they shouted slogans against Kharge.
“Several countries have conferred their highest civilian awards on our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. No other PM of India has received awards on such a scale. At a time when the whole world has recognised Narendra Modi’s leadership, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has made a statement calling him a terrorist. Not only the BJP, but the entire country condemns it,” Vijayendra said.
Speaking to reporters, he added that Kharge and the Congress party are probably unable to accept Narendra Modi’s popularity.
“Narendra Modi, who comes from a backward class, has successfully led the country as PM for twelve consecutive years. The Congress is unable to accept this. The party is collapsing day by day across the country, so they are making such remarks against Modi. We strongly condemn this and urge Kharge to apologise to the nation,” he said.
Ashoka said the AICC president’s statement reflects the Congress party’s “degraded culture.” He added that people had rejected Kharge, and after losing the Lok Sabha elections, he is now holding onto power in the Rajya Sabha.
“Kharge had ambitions to become the CM of Karnataka, but the Congress party did not support him. He is disillusioned and does not know what he is saying. That is why he used the term ‘terrorist’ against the PM, who has led the nation in the fight against terrorism and Pakistan,” he claimed.
The opposition leader demanded that Kharge be removed as Congress president and that he apologise to the country for his remarks.
Kharge, on Tuesday, accused Modi of “terrorising” political parties by allegedly misusing government machinery and central agencies to suppress the Opposition.
This triggered strong reactions from the BJP, which criticised him for calling Modi a “terrorist.”
Addressing a press conference in Chennai alongside AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal, Kharge initially referred to the PM as a “terrorist” while criticising the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP.
Questioning how the AIADMK—a party rooted in the Dravidian ideologies of Periyar and C N Annadurai—could justify aligning with Modi, Kharge said: “How can these AIADMK leaders, who display Annadurai’s photo, join hands with Modi? He is a terrorist… He does not believe in equality. His party does not believe in equality and justice. By joining them, they are weakening democracy.”
However, when asked by reporters to clarify his remark, Kharge stated that he meant the PM was “terrorising” the democratic fabric of the country.
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Lower yield, higher price: Mango lovers in K’taka warned by govt officials to be ready for shortage
Bengaluru: The people of Karnataka, who go gaga over the King of Fruits every summer, have been warned by concerned officials to be ready to go home from the market with lighter bags as well as emptier purses.
The state witnessed severe hailstorms and also untimely rains during the flowering stage of the mango crop, which has hit the mango harvest in Karnataka. While the state produced as high as 13-14 lakh metric tonnes of mango in 2025, it has managed to grow only 9-10 lakh metric tonnes this year, reports Deccan Herald.
As an outcome, the price of the crop has reportedly gone sky-high, increasing by 20 to 25 per cent compared to last year.
Speaking about the fall in yield, officials of the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited are learned to have attributed the dip to a combination of unseasonal rainfall, persistent humidity, cloudy weather and sudden pest infestations that triggered massive fruit drops, affecting exports as well as the local supply chain.
Prominent mango-growing areas in Karnataka, like Ramanagar, Kolar and Srinivasapur in Kolar district, famed for the premium Alphonso (Badami) variety, have been greatly affected.
Vendors at present are purchasing the fruit at a rate of Rs 180-200 per kg, with retailers selling it to customers at Rs 250 to 300 a kg.
Some varieties are still available for customers and Bengaluru is expected to get a batch from Ramanagar in about a week’s time.
While the annual ‘Mango Mela’, which is held every year at Lalbagh, is expected to be held in the third week of May, officials have warned that organising the event might prove more expensive this year. As a result, Bengaluru might witness a ‘Mango Mela’ on a smaller scale at Cubbon Park, a smaller venue.
General Manager of HOPCOMS, Jayaprakash, is learned to have said that the yield this year was just about 50 per cent of the usual amount, which has caused a sky-rocketing of the rates.
He is further reported to have confirmed that, compared to last season, prices had jumped by 20 to 25 per cent, adding that, as it is still early in the season, a marginal price drop of 5 to 10 per cent might be seen after a week.
