Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s description of Diwali as an “Eid of joy” has sparked political controversy. While Congress defended his message of communal harmony, BJP leaders and AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan criticised the remark, alleging political appeasement and electoral motives.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge‘s description of Diwali as an “Eid of joy” has triggered a political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). While Congress leaders have defended the remark as a message of communal harmony and national unity, critics have accused the Congress leadership of indulging in appeasement politics.
While extending Diwali greetings to the people, Kharge described Deepawali as a festival of happiness and referred to it as an “Eid of joy.” He highlighted the importance of festivals in promoting peace, harmony and brotherhood among people belonging to different religious communities.
The Congress president urged citizens to use the festive occasion to strengthen national unity, remove social divisions and promote mutual respect. His remarks were presented by Congress supporters as an expression of shared happiness and cultural understanding.
However, his choice of the word “Eid” to describe the Hindu festival of Diwali quickly attracted attention on social media and in political circles, with reactions emerging from different political parties.
Congress leaders and supporters defended Kharge, arguing that he intended to convey a broader message of communal harmony. They maintained that his reference to Eid was metaphorical and reflected the idea that festivals across religions bring happiness and unite communities.
The BJP, however, strongly criticised the statement. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari and other party leaders accused the Congress of pursuing appeasement and vote-bank politics.
Bhandari described the remark as an example of what the BJP considers the Congress leadership’s anti-Sanatan approach. BJP leaders questioned the need to associate Diwali with another religious festival, arguing that such statements could be interpreted as an attempt to dilute the distinct cultural identity of Deepawali.
The controversy also drew a reaction from AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan, who criticised Kharge’s remarks and described them as a political tactic aimed at securing electoral support.
Pathan said Diwali was a grand festival celebrated with immense enthusiasm by Hindu communities, while Eid was also a celebration shared by people across society. He argued that linking the two festivals through such statements was a political stunt intended to appease a particular voting community.
He further claimed that voters had become increasingly aware of political strategies and asserted that the electorate would deliver its response in the upcoming elections.
The reactions from the BJP and AIMIM have added another dimension to the debate surrounding Kharge’s festive greeting. While Congress supporters continue to defend the statement as an appeal for religious harmony and social cohesion, critics have questioned its political implications.
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The episode has once again brought the relationship between religion, cultural identity and political messaging into the spotlight. Major festivals often become occasions for political leaders to communicate messages of unity and inclusiveness, but statements involving religious references can also generate competing interpretations.
As discussions continue across social media platforms and political circles, Kharge’s “Eid of joy” remark has emerged as a prominent talking point during this Diwali season, with Congress, BJP and AIMIM leaders expressing sharply different views on its meaning and intent.
