• Kharge describes Diwali as “Khushiyon Ki Eid” and calls for national unity.
• BJP accuses the Congress chief of hurting Hindu sentiments and pursuing appeasement.
• Congress leaders defend the remark as a metaphorical message of communal harmony.
• AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan also criticises the comparison, calling it a political stunt.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 9th Nov: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s description of Diwali as “Khushiyon Ki Eid” has triggered a political controversy, with the BJP accusing the Opposition party of religious appeasement. Congress leaders and supporters, however, have defended the remark, saying it was intended to promote unity and mutual respect among communities.

Speaking to reporters during Diwali, Kharge extended greetings to people across the country and described the festival as a major celebration shared by all Indians. He said it was a festival of joy that continued over an extended period and urged citizens to use the festive occasion to strengthen unity and remove social divisions.

The Congress maintained that Kharge had used the word “Eid” in its broader sense of a joyous celebration and had drawn a metaphorical comparison to underline the importance of cultural harmony.

The remark drew sharp criticism from the BJP. Party spokesperson CR Kesavan accused Kharge of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindu devotees and alleged that the Congress was using religious appeasement for political purposes.

Kesavan also referred to earlier remarks by Kharge concerning the Mahakumbh and criticised Rahul Gandhi over his comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to the Yamuna during Chhath Puja.

The BJP spokesperson alleged that the Congress had repeatedly made statements that hurt Hindu religious sentiments. He also accused the party of pursuing divisive politics ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, scheduled for next year.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari described Kharge’s remark as an example of appeasement and questioned whether the Congress would use a similar comparison while referring to Eid in relation to a Hindu festival.

Bhandari also cited past controversies involving the Congress leadership, including remarks on the Mahakumbh and the 2008 Batla House encounter. His comments brought earlier political exchanges over religious events and security issues back into the debate.

Meanwhile, AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also criticised Kharge’s comparison, calling it a political tactic aimed at gaining electoral support.

Pathan said Diwali was celebrated with enthusiasm by Hindu communities and Eid was a celebration shared by people across communities. He described equating the two festivals in political messaging as an attempt to appease a particular voting group.

The controversy has once again brought the relationship between religious expression and political messaging into focus, with the Congress defending Kharge’s appeal for harmony and the BJP and AIMIM questioning the comparison.