A new political row has broken out after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the festival of Diwali ‘Khushiyon Ka Eid’ to greet the people on the occasion of the festival. The BJP has attacked the Congress over Kharge’s statement and called it vote-bank politics and appeasement.
What Did Mallikarjun Kharge Say About Diwali?
On November 8, 2026, Mallikarjun Kharge wished the nation on Diwali while addressing the media. Telling the significance of the festival of Diwali, the leader stated that it is one of the biggest festivals in India and celebrations bring families and communities together. He said in his message that, “Diwali, Khushiyon ka Eid hai”. He also urged the people to stay peaceful, reconcile differences,s and forget wrongs. It is the time of national integrity. Come together for the well-being of the country,” said Kharge.
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Why Did BJP Target Mallikarjun Kharge?
Pradeep Bhandari, BJP’s spokesperson, was highly critical of Kharge’s statements and stated that Congress had imported vote-bank politics into Diwali. The person in question said that Congress is an anti-Sanatan party and asked if the president of the same party once compared a Hindu festival with Eid and again greeted everyone on the same festival. The BJP leaders, meanwhile, linked the debate to prior comments by Sonia Gandhi, the former Congress leader, on the razing of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Such comments threw another dimension into the BJP-Congress tussle.
Hemang Joshi Is Also Responding To Kharge’s Comment
Vadodara MP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Hemang Joshi also responded to Kharge’s comment. H e doubted the political stance taken by the Congress president’s analogy and tweeted to include Rahul Gandhi in it. The response from him only heightened the political mud-slinging, with BJP leaders still taking jabs at Congress over the party’s attitude toward Hindu festivals and religious customs.
What Is Congress’s Stand On The Controversy?
Original message from Kharge was on happiness, peace, harmony, and spreading joy among everyone during Diwali. The comparison with Eid was in the context of twin festivals and oneness of the nation. But the controversy has focused on different political parties reading into his words. Other than BJP leaders who have called it appeasement politics, there has been a larger debate also about who can show the religion and what is the meaning of secularism.
Why Has The Diwali Remark Become A Political Issue?
Diwali is a significant cultural and religious festival to millions of people. Leaders of all political parties take on major festivals to extend greetings and goodwill. Diwali, being called ‘Khushiyon Ka Eid’ by Kharge, has now become a talking point in politics as the BJP has raised questions over Congress’s stand on Sanatan Dharma. This exchange only reiterates the yet unresolved political differences between the BJP and Congress on religion, culture and secularism.
