BJP attacks Congress chief over Diwali-Eid comparison remark

The BJP launched a sharp attack on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday after the senior opposition leader extended Diwali greetings by describing the Hindu festival as 'khushiyon ka Eid'—or the 'Eid of joy'. Kharge made the remarks while speaking to journalists over the weekend, noting that Diwali is a major festival celebrated across India by people of all communities.

Party representatives from the BJP seized on Kharge's choice of words, arguing that the comparison was inappropriate and challenging Congress to demonstrate similar openness by calling the Islamic festival of Eid the 'Diwali of joy'. The BJP framed the criticism as part of a broader argument about how the Congress party approaches religious festivals and communal messaging.

The exchange reflects ongoing political tensions between India's ruling party and the main opposition over how religious festivals are discussed and celebrated in public discourse. Kharge's remarks, intended as an inclusive gesture acknowledging Diwali's pan-Indian appeal, instead became the focal point of political disagreement about the appropriate language for describing festivals from different faith traditions.

Neither party has indicated plans to escalate the dispute further, though the controversy underscores the sensitivity surrounding religious matters in India's polarized political environment. The incident comes as various political leaders across the country release festival greetings ahead of the Diwali celebrations.