Election Commission issues notice to Kharge over 'terrorist' comment on Modi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a formal notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over remarks in which he allegedly called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "terrorist," according to reports from Hindustan Times and The Hindu. The commission’s notice demands a response from Kharge within 24 hours, underlining the seriousness with which the ECI is treating the violation of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the upcoming elections.

Kharge had made the remarks during the Tamil Nadu election campaign, triggering a political uproar and demands for action from the BJP, as noted by Hindustan Times and Times of India. The BJP delegation, led by senior leaders including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, met the Election Commission and pressed for stringent punitive measures against Kharge, alleging that his comment insulted the Prime Minister and lowered campaign standards, as The Hindu reports.

In response, Kharge clarified that he did not explicitly call Modi a terrorist but accused the Prime Minister of "terrorising" political opponents, according to coverage by The Hindu. Despite the clarification, BJP leaders condemned the statement as crude and a personal attack, intensifying political hostilities between the two parties during this sensitive electoral period.

Separately, Kharge criticized Modi for failing to respond to former US President Donald Trump’s derogatory "hellhole" remark about India, as reported by the Times of India. Kharge accused the government of mishandling international relations and questioned the Prime Minister’s silence on the matter, adding to the charged political atmosphere ahead of the polls.

The Election Commission's notice and the BJP’s demands will be closely followed for how they might influence campaign conduct and electoral discipline. Observers will watch for Kharge’s official response and any further action by the ECI, which could set a precedent on managing inflammatory political rhetoric in the run-up to elections.