Vice President slams Kharge over terrorist remark against PM Modi

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday took a veiled dig at AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge over his remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha “fails to distinguish between terror and those who fight it.”

He made the remark at the beginning of his speech at the Amrit Mahotsava (75th birth anniversary) celebration of Dr Basavalinga Pattadevaru Mahaswamiji of Hiremath Samsthan at Sri Channabasavashram in Bhalki, Bidar district.

Kharge, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, and Minister Eshwar Khandre were among those present at the event. “I had a slight difference with Kharge ji-only a difference in vision. Sometimes, I feel Kharge ji does not differentiate between black and white, or between a terrorist and the terror to the terrorist. Otherwise, I have no problem; he is a very good friend of mine,” Radhakrishnan said.

Kharge on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Modi of “terrorising” political parties by misusing Government machinery and central agencies to stifle the Opposition, triggering strong reactions from the BJP, which criticised the Opposition leader for calling Modi a “terrorist.”

Addressing a press conference in Chennai alongside AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, Kharge initially referred to the Prime Minister as a “terrorist” while criticising the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP.

Questioning how the AIADMK-a party rooted in the Dravidian ideologies of Periyar and CN Annadurai-could justify partnering with Modi, Kharge said: “How can these AIADMK leaders, who themselves display the photo of Annadurai, align with Modi? He is a terrorist... He does not believe in equality. His party does not believe in equality and justice. And by joining them, they are weakening democracy.”

However, when asked by reporters to clarify the remark, Kharge said he meant that the PM was “terrorising” the democratic fabric of the country.