The BJP on Monday (November 9, 2026) came down heavily on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of insulting Hindus by describing Deepavali as “Eid of happiness”, alleging that the statement reflected the principal Opposition party’s “politics of appeasement” and “anti-Sanatan” ideology.

“Whatever statements Mallikarjun Kharge ji makes should be understood as the anti-Hindu and anti-Sanatan thinking of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Mallikarjun Kharge ji is advancing that very same thinking,” BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said at a press conference.

“I issue a challenge to Rahul Gandhi and Kharge ji. When Eid comes this time, Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji, please make sure you say this once: ‘The Diwali of happiness has arrived’… This will demonstrate whether your thinking and ideology are consistent. If Diwali is an ‘Eid of happiness’, then Eid should also be a ‘Diwali of happiness’ for Kharge ji. However, this will not happen, as the remarks are a reflection of the Congress’s mindset,” Mr. Bhatia said.

Congress leader Pawan Khera defended Mr. Kharge’s “Khushiyon ka Eid (Eid of happiness)” remark, saying those criticising it were “semantically ignorant” as the word ‘Eid’ literally meant festival. He said Mr. Kharge’s statement was perfectly normal and accused the BJP of viewing even a festival through the lens of negativity. “We come from the Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb [syncretic culture]. We will bring all religions along together,” Mr. Khera added.