Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge triggered a political storm on the final day of campaigning in Tamil Nadu after referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “terrorist” during an election rally. His remarks quickly drew strong criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress of lowering political discourse and demanded an apology from senior opposition leaders.

Kharge later attempted to contain the controversy, insisting that he had not called the Prime Minister a terrorist, but had meant that the ruling BJP leadership was “terrorising people and political parties”.

Kharge’s remarks at rally spark uproar

Addressing supporters while criticising the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, the 83-year-old questioned the party’s ideological consistency.

"How these AIADMK people, who themselves put the photo of Annadurai, how can they join Modi? He is a terrorist. His party won't believe in equality and justice. These people are joining with them; it means they are weakening democracy, they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar, Kaliagnar, Baba Saheb Ambedkar," he said.

Linking the opposition’s unity to the defeat of the Delimitation Bill, Kharge credited Tamil Nadu’s MPs for enabling the fight against it.

"I also thank the Tamil Nadu people who have given MPs to us, that's why we were able to fight and defeat the bill… Modi is not for these principles and one more thing I want to tell how this AIADMK people who themselves put the photo of Annadurai, how can they join with Modi who is a terrorist…" he added.

He argued that the Congress-DMK alliance remained committed to welfare, inclusive development, quality education and accessible public health services.

Clarification issued after reporter questions statement

During a subsequent press briefing, Kharge was asked to elaborate on his controversial choice of words. He immediately softened his stance.

"He (PM Modi) is terrorising people and political parties. I never said he is a terrorist...What I mean, I want to clarify, is that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. He wants to take delimitation also into his hands," he said.

Kharge reiterated that his intention was to highlight what he described as the misuse of central agencies and the government’s centralising tendencies.

BJP hits back, accuses congress of ‘Urban Naxal’ politics

The BJP’s response was immediate and intense. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of repeatedly attacking the Prime Minister with inappropriate language.

"The Congress is an 'Urban Naxal' party; that is why Kharge employs abusive language against the Prime Minister… The repeated use of venomous rhetoric, including death threats, makes one thing abundantly clear: the Congress party's 'remote control' lies in the hands of anti-national forces," he alleged in a video statement.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal also condemned Kharge’s comments, calling them an insult to the electorate.

"I feel ashamed that the Congress and the DMK have stooped so low that they are insulting the Prime Minister who is democratically elected by the people of India, by calling him a terrorist… Rahul Gandhi and MK Stalin must apologise," he posted on X.

He further argued that the remarks amounted to an affront to “140 crore Indians” and asserted that such personal attacks would not change electoral outcomes.

Critique of BJP over Women’s Reservation Bill

Kharge also took aim at the BJP’s record on gender equality, accusing the party of hypocrisy on women’s rights.

"Now, the Women's Welfare Bill, how ironic that the BJP, RSS, the flag bearers of Manuvadi politics… are talking about women's welfare," he said, adding that the Congress stood firmly behind the 2023 women’s reservation law.

Final appeal ahead of Tamil Nadu polls

The Congress chief urged voters in Tamil Nadu to strengthen the DMK-Congress coalition, warning that the BJP and its allies sought to impose a centralised ideology and undermine the state’s values.

"BJP's hidden agenda is that it seeks to impose its ideology, culture and centralised control… I urge people not to fall prey to this trap," he said.

He cautioned against smaller parties that he claimed could divide the secular vote, indirectly aiding the BJP.

Tamil Nadu votes on April 23, with results to be declared on May 4.

(With ANI inputs)