Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge (file photo)

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Mentioned the Prime Minister on Tuesday Narendra Modi as a “terrorist” and later issued a clarification, which was expected to create political controversy during the current election season.Kharge made this statement in Chennai on Thursday, the last day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He was criticizing AIADMK over PM Modi’s alliance with BJP.“How can they (AIADMK) associate with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he does not believe in equality. His party will not believe in equality and justice. And these people are associating with him, it means they are weakening democracy, they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar, Kalaignar and Baba Saheb Ambedkar,” he said.“The Congress-DMK alliance will continue to provide welfare, inclusive growth, quality education and accessible healthcare,” he said.When questioned about the context of his remarks, the Congress chief said he meant that the Prime Minister always makes “threats” and pointed to the alleged “misuse” of agencies by the BJP-led central government.“I want to clarify that Modi always gives threats. Institutions like ED, IT and CBI are in his hands. So I say, in that context, I say he is terrorizing people and political parties,” the veteran politician said.Responding to Kharge’s remarks, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya criticized the Congress leader in a post on Twitter, calling it “another foolish display”.“This is not the first time that Kharge has dragged the public discussion to such a low level. But with this comment, he has not only shortchanged himself, he has also exposed the Congress’s stated approach: abuse and defamation of India’s most popular leader instead of meaningful debate.” When politics is reduced to name-calling, it reflects not strength, but deep frustration and lack of credible alternatives,” Malviya posted.The ruling DMK’s arch rival AIADMK joined hands with the BJP in April 2025 after walking away from the alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in which both the parties failed to win any seats in Tamil Nadu. In that election, DMK and its allies had won the state.Counting of votes for all 234 assembly seats in Tamil Nadu is to be held on May 4.