‘Anti-Sanatan’: BJP Slams Mallikarjun Kharge Over His ‘Diwali Khushiyon Ka Eid’ Remark | India News

Last Updated:November 08, 2026, 18:31 IST

The BJP criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, calling him “anti-Sanatan” after he referred to Diwali as “Khushiyon Ka Eid”.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (Image: PTI/File)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after he described Diwali as “Khushiyon Ka Eid”, calling him “anti-Sanatan”.

Kharge made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the occasion of Diwali. Reacting to his comments, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress leader of indulging in appeasement politics.

In a post on X, the BJP leader also brought up Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s recent remarks about the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.

“Congress President calls Diwali ‘Khushiyon Ka Eid’! Even on Diwali, Congress thinks of appeasement & vote bank! Yesterday Sonia Gandhi cried for Babri, today Mr Kharge appeases in his Diwali message! Congress is Anti-Sanatan!,” BJP spokesperson tweeted.

What Sonia Gandhi Said About Babri Masjid

Gandhi’s remarks were made in an interview with The Guardian newspaper ahead of the release of her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. Recalling the events of December 6, 1992, she said she had cried after watching the Babri Masjid being demolished on television.

She also said the incident made her realise that India faced a long struggle to preserve its secular foundations. Gandhi further acknowledged that the Congress had been complacent in several ways, contributing partly to the rise of the BJP and its Hindutva politics.

Her comments triggered a political exchange, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of being sympathetic towards Babur and questioning Gandhi’s recollection of watching the demolition on television.

“This shows that Babar was in the heart of the Congress party back then, and he remains in its heart even today,” Rajya Sabha MP and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters in Delhi.

Quick Answers

Powered by

Ask News18

Why did the BJP accuse Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of being anti-Sanatan?

The BJP criticized Mallikarjun Kharge after he referred to Diwali as “Khushiyon Ka Eid” while speaking to reporters, with party leaders accusing him of indulging in appeasement politics and vote-bank maneuvering.

What did Sonia Gandhi say regarding the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition?

In an interview with The Guardian, Sonia Gandhi recalled watching the demolition of the Babri Masjid on television on December 6, 1992, and stated that she had cried. She noted that the incident highlighted India’s long struggle to preserve its secular foundations and admitted that Congress had been complacent in ways that partly contributed to the rise of the BJP.

How did BJP leaders react to Sonia Gandhi’s comments on the Babri Masjid demolition?

BJP leaders strongly criticized Sonia Gandhi’s recollections, with Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi stating that her remarks showed Babar was in the heart of the Congress party back then and remains there today.

Powered by

Ask News18

About the Author

Manisha RoySenior Sub-Editor

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international d…Read More

Read More