VP Radhakrishnan jabs Kharge over ‘terrorist’ remark on PM Modi

Amid the ongoing row over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “terrorist” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday (April 22), in a veiled dig at the Congress veteran, said that he sometimes feels that the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha does not differentiate between "black and white" or between "terror and terrorist." Kharge was present on the dais when the Rajya Sabha chairperson made the remarks.

Vice President’s veiled dig at Kharge

"I feel, sometimes Kharge ji does not differentiate between black and white, or between terror and terrorist,” said the Vice President while addressing a gathering in Bidar.

Also Read: Kharge sparks row over ‘terrorist’ remark on PM Modi, later clarifies

Earlier in the day, a BJP delegation comprising three Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, approached the Election Commission (EC) demanding “strictest action” against the Congress president for his remark against PM Modi.

BJP moves EC over remark

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sitharaman said, “Today, we appeared before the full commission to bring to its notice that no less a person than the president of the Congress and the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha has spoken in such condemnable words.

Also Read: Kharge says Congress opposed delimitation, not Women’s Quota Bill, slams Modi

Kharge chose to call the prime minister a “terrorist” while addressing a press conference in Tamil Nadu, an election-bound state, the finance minister said, terming the Congress chief’s remark “outrageous”.

“It's an insult to the mandate given by the people of India (to Prime Minister Modi). More importantly, it is an insult to the entire system where people choose their leader through elections, and once chosen, he is the leader for the entire country,” Sitharaman said.

Charge of “insult”

She further alleged that the Congress is “completely frustrated” and making such remarks against the prime minister amid assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal because of its "deep hatred" towards PM Modi.

“We have demanded that the Election Commission take the matter in all seriousness. We requested the poll panel to act firmly and sternly,” she said.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was also part of the delegation, termed the remark a "disgusting act" by Kharge.

Call for apology and strict action

"We have demanded the strictest action. We have also demanded that Kharge and the Congress be directed to apologise to the country," Rijiju told reporters.

He said the Commission gave a patient hearing to the BJP delegation and assured that it will take "appropriate action" in the matter.

Also Read: Opposition backs women’s quota, opposes delimitation move: Kharge

"The Election Commission should take such action in the matter that nobody ever dares to call the country's prime minister a terrorist. Everyone should learn a lesson. We hope the Election Commission will definitely take action," the senior BJP leader said.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and BJP national general secretary Arun Singh were also part of the delegation.

Kharge clarifies “terrorist” remark

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, the Congress chief initially referred to the prime minister as a "terrorist" while criticising the AIADMK's alliance with the BJP.

However, when pressed by reporters to clarify the context of the remark, the Congress chief said he meant that the prime minister was "terrorising" the country's democratic fabric.