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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Assembly polls: Voting ends, TN witnesses record 82.24 per cent turnout
Chennai (PTI): Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election ended at 6 PM on Thursday and electors who gathered in the polling stations before the time for closure of polling were allowed to vote, officials said.
About 82.24 per cent of the 5.73 crore eligible voters exercised their franchise in the election to the 234-member strong Tamil Nadu Assembly, a record turnout. This was the provincial figure till 5 pm and the final data will be made available following consolidation of data, officials added.
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People voted in as many as 75,064 polling stations in 33,133 locations to decide the fortunes of 4,023 candidates.
The DMK, which heads the Secular Progressive Alliance, is seeking to retain power, and is leading a multi-party coalition that includes Congress, Left parties and the VCK. The AIADMK, heading the National Democratic Alliance, on the other hand, is pushing for a return to power with allies BJP, AMMK and PMK, among others, in tow.
Actor Vijay-led TVK is attempting to break the decades long tradition of DMK and AIADMK alternatively ruling the state and form its government.
Despite the scorching sun, people turned up enthusiastically in polling stations right from 7 AM onwards and cast their votes and those who had gathered before 6 PM, the appointed time for closure of polling, were allowed to vote.
