Mallikarjun Kharge calls PM Modi a terrorist, then clarifies

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday sparked controversy when he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "terrorist" while criticising the AIADMK for allying with the BJP for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. Kharge, whose comment drew the BJP's ire, later clarified that PM Modi "threatens" and "terrorises" his opponents.At a press conference in Chennai, when a reporter asked for context behind the assessment, the Congress chief clarified that what he meant is that "PM Modi is terrorising people and political parties", adding he never called the Prime Minister a terrorist. "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," M Kharge said.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "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… pic.twitter.com/znLvE7hutP

— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2026

He claimed that PM Modi is a "liar" and has not done anything for the people of the country for nearly 12 years. Urging the people of Tamil Nadu to vote for the Congress-DMK alliance in the Assembly polls, Kharge said the bloc has protected the state's rights and believes in social justice, secularism and inclusive growth.