Union Minister rebukes Kharge, defends Babri verdict and Naxal progress

Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent comment that Diwali could be labeled as Eid drew a swift rebuke from Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. The minister argued that such a juxtaposition distorts the unique essence of each festival and urged Kharge to apologise for the off‑hand remark.

Athawale also addressed the commentary of SP MP Sanatan Pandey concerning the Babri Masjid issue. He described Pandey’s stance as “needlessly provocative”, reminding listeners that the dispute was adjudicated first by the Allahabad High Court and ultimately by the Supreme Court, which confirmed archaeological evidence of a former Ram temple and ordered construction of a new shrine.

The minister highlighted that the Supreme Court’s ruling has long been enacted: the temple stands, and the Muslim community has accepted the judgment. He cautioned political leaders against exploiting the matter to stir communal unrest, labeling such tactics as detrimental to national harmony.

On the security front, Athawale praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for declaring Bastar a "Naxal‑free Diwali". He pointed to the government's track record of convincing thousands of insurgents to surrender and eliminating the remaining militant pockets, noting that the celebration with security forces lifted their spirits and signalled a decisive turn in the fight against Naxalism.