Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sparked a sharp political row on Monday, 9 November 2026, after he described Diwali as 'Khushiyon ka Eid' (Eid of Happiness) while extending festival greetings to reporters over the weekend. The remarks drew swift and fierce condemnation from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, who accused the Indian National Congress (Congress) of harbouring an anti-Hindu mindset and pandering to vote-bank politics.

What Kharge Said

Speaking to reporters, Kharge extended Diwali wishes using the phrase: 'I extend my best wishes to everyone for Diwali. Many people celebrate it as it is Khushiyon ka Eid.' He also appealed for peace and national unity, urging anyone harbouring grievances or misunderstandings to set aside their differences. 'I urge those who may be in conflict or harbouring misunderstandings with one another to set these differences aside,' he said.

The phrasing drew immediate attention from political opponents, who argued that framing a Hindu festival in the vocabulary of a Muslim festival was deliberately provocative and reflected a deeper political calculation by the Congress leadership.

BJP's Broadside

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the remark exposed the Congress party's ideological positioning. 'Mallikarjun Kharge's statement exposes the Congress party's anti-Hindu mindset. The Congress should be ashamed that even on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, instead of respecting Hindu sentiments, it is engaging in vote-bank politics,' he said. Bhandari went on to link the controversy to earlier remarks by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, whom he alleged had expressed grief over the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the Batla House encounter. 'Now, the party's president is describing Diwali as the Eid of Happiness. This makes it clear that the Congress party is engaged in appeasement and vote-bank politics 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,' he added.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam also weighed in, alleging that Congress leaders were selectively invoking religious symbolism for electoral advantage. 'They pretend to wear the sacred thread. And when it is time for our Diwali celebrations, instead of extending Diwali greetings, they turn even this festival into an issue of religious appeasement. This is our question,' he said.

Shiv Sena Joins the Attack

Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande called the remarks a symptom of a deeper political crisis within Congress. 'I feel sorry for their lack of understanding. They are so afraid and so desperate to appease Muslims that tomorrow they might even call Diwali Eid. They are so scared because they have lost their political ground. Neither Hindus nor Muslims are going to vote for them,' she said. Kayande argued that Congress was oscillating between competing identities — secular and Hindu nationalist — without a coherent political vision. 'In an attempt to please one community or the other, they try to appear secular at times and claim to stand for Hindutva at other times. They have become confused,' she added.

Context and Political Background

This is not the first time that Congress's festival messaging has drawn fire from rival parties. The BJP has consistently sought to frame Congress's outreach to minority communities as evidence of systemic anti-Hindu bias — a charge the Congress has repeatedly denied. Kharge, who took over as Congress president in October 2022, has sought to strike a tone of inclusive national unity in his public addresses, but critics argue the choice of phrasing on Diwali crossed a symbolic line. Notably, the controversy comes at a politically sensitive moment, with several state assemblies scheduled to go to polls in the coming months.

Congress has not issued a formal clarification or rebuttal as of the time of this report. The episode is likely to deepen the ongoing contest over Hindu identity politics ahead of the next electoral cycle.