EC issues notice to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over ‘terrorist’ remarks, seeks reply within 24 hours

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday took serious notice of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” and issued a stern notice to him. The pollster gave Hager 24 hours to explain his position.Haq on Tuesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrorist” before issuing a clarification, comments expected to spark political controversy during the current election season.Haq made the statement at a press conference in Chennai on the last day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, scheduled for Thursday. He criticized the opposition AIADMK for forming an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“How can they (AIADMK) join Modi? He is a terrorist. He does not believe in equality. His party will not believe in equality and justice. By joining them, these people are weakening democracy, they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar, Kalaignar and Baba Saheb Ambedkar,” he said.Asked about the context of his remarks, the Congress president said he meant the Prime Minister was always a “threat” and pointed to the alleged “abuse” of institutions by the BJP-led government at the Centre.“I want to clarify that Modi is always threatening. Agencies like ED, IT and CBI are in his hands. So, in this case, I say he is intimidating the people and the party,” the senior politician said.The BJP later urged the EC to take “appropriate criminal action” against Haq, calling the remarks “one of the most serious accusations possible in public life”.“This is not just derogatory but a dangerous and unprecedented attack on democratic institutions and a blatant violation of the MCC. Immediate action is non-negotiable,” the BJP said in its complaint. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and other officials asked the EC to consider registering an FIR against Haq for making “false and defamatory statements” and violating poll codes.