BJP is 'party of terrorists': Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (October 12) called the BJP a “party of terrorists”, as he launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent remarks that the grand old party is being run by a “gang of urban Naxals”.

In a fierce counter-attack, he also accused those in the saffron party of 'lynching and beating' people, and committing atrocities against SC/STs.

Kharge’s offensive came days after PM Modi said that the BJP's victory in the Haryana elections shows the mood in the country and the people have shown they will not fall prey to the hateful conspiracies of the Congress and “urban Naxals”.

Also Read: 5 things PM Modi said about Congress post election results

Accuses BJP of backing perpetrators

“He (Modi) has always been saying it, even now he is saying it. Till now he was silent, after getting a bit of life now, he is saying urban Naxal. He calls intellectual and progressive people urban Naxal, he calls Congress too (as urban Naxals), this is his habit,” Kharge said in response to a question on Modi's comments.

Speaking to reporters at Kalaburagi in Karnataka, he said, “Modi always labels Congress as an urban Naxal party... It's his habit. But what about his own party? BJP is a party of terrorists. They engage in lynching, assault people, urinate in the mouths of people from Scheduled Caste, and rape tribals. Modi has no right to make such accusations.”

He alleged that the BJP not only tolerates such heinous acts but also supports the perpetrators. “Wherever the BJP is in power, atrocities against Scheduled Castes and tribals increase. Then they turn around and blame others. It is his government, and he can control it if he chooses,” he said.

Shows Cong character: BJP slams Kharge

Responding to Kharge's remarks, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla trained his guns at the Congress, saying that the Congress has made it a habit and they have always used such kind of language to abuse PM Modi, and this only shows the character of the grand old party.

Also Read: Haryana, J&K results | Modi: People put 'no entry' boards for Congress

“Crores of people have voted for BJP in 2014, 2019 and now in 2024. This is an insult to the people's wisdom, but Congress has made it a habit. They put Parivar Tantra above everything else. They have doubted the results of the EVM in Haryana. They have blamed the EVM, the Election Commission, and then the people…This shows the character and the DNA of Congress,” he said.

Hitting back at Kharge's remarks, senior Karnataka BJP leader and MLC N Ravikumar told PTI that terrorism and Naxal activities have come down in the country by about 80-90 per cent, and challenged for a debate the issue, drawing a comparison between a decade of Modi’s rule and 10 years of the UPA regime.

Claiming that the Congress doesn't have a clear policy on Naxals and terrorists, he said they are indirectly involved in appeasing one particular community, and they may go to any extent for it. “This is an open challenge to Kharge, we are ready for a debate, compare terror and Naxal activities during 10 years of Modi rule and 10 years under Manmohan Singh-led government at the Centre,” he said.

(With agency inputs)