Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 26: A political controversy erupted on Sunday after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s controversial remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father triggered a sharp exchange between the BJP and the Congress, with the ruling party demanding an apology and announcing protests against the opposition leader.
The controversy began during an event in Patna marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh. Kharge was addressing the gathering when he spoke about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and warned that those responsible would be sent to jail.
During his speech, a person in the audience interrupted him, saying that Modi would not leave office. Kharge responded, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Even Modi’s father will have to go), triggering a political storm.
The BJP strongly condemned the remark, accusing the Congress president of violating political decorum by referring to the Prime Minister’s late father. Several senior BJP leaders demanded an apology, while Congress leaders defended Kharge, arguing that his response came after an interruption and accusing the BJP of selectively objecting to personal remarks.
The BJP also announced protests against Kharge, with party workers planning to burn his effigy at Income Tax Circle in Patna on Monday morning. The party’s protests were expected to intensify as the controversy spread beyond Bihar.
Amit Shah, Nitin Nabin lead BJP attack
Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused Kharge of crossing all limits of political decency by making the remark about Modi’s late father.
In a post on X, Shah alleged that the Congress had repeatedly used objectionable language against the Prime Minister and his family. He cited earlier controversies involving remarks about Modi’s mother, the description of Modi as a “merchant of death” and references to his humble background as a “chaiwala”.
Shah blamed Rahul Gandhi’s leadership for what he described as the Congress’s declining standards of political discourse. He alleged that repeated electoral defeats had left the party without meaningful policies or substantive issues, forcing it to rely on personal attacks against Modi and his family.
He further claimed that voters had repeatedly rejected the Congress over such remarks.
BJP president Nitin Nabin described Kharge’s statement as evidence of the Congress’s “ideological bankruptcy”. He said political opposition should be conducted with dignity and restraint and accused the Congress of dragging deceased family members into political speeches.
Nabin alleged that the remark reflected the political culture of the Congress under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, adding that personal insults could not substitute for discussions on development, government policies or public welfare.
The BJP also criticised the Congress in a post on X, alleging that the language used by its president was unbecoming of a senior political leader. The party compared the Congress’s functioning to that of a “mafia gang” and claimed that the opposition was resorting to personal attacks because it lacked substantive issues to raise against the government.
Rajnath Singh, Nadda condemn remarks
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was shocked and hurt by Kharge’s remarks about the Prime Minister’s late father.
Singh accused the Congress of allowing political discourse to deteriorate into personal insults. He alleged that Congress leaders had previously mocked Modi’s family background and used objectionable language about his mother, claiming that such conduct had now reached the party’s top leadership.
He said political opponents were free to question government policies and criticise the administration but should not cross personal boundaries.
Singh described the remarks as an attack on the dignity of Indian politics and accused the Congress of becoming politically, ideologically and morally bankrupt. He added that the public would respond to what he termed an insult to the Prime Minister’s family and the sentiments of millions of Indians.
Union minister JP Nadda also condemned Kharge’s remarks, accusing the Congress of expressing its political frustration through disparaging comments about Modi and his family.
Nadda alleged that the opposition’s language reflected its unease over Modi’s popularity and the public’s continued trust in him. He said the Congress should understand that public support could not be won through hatred and humiliation.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Kharge’s remarks as unforgivable and strongly condemnable. He accused the Congress of making abusive language a feature of Indian politics and said the comment about Modi’s late father had hurt the sentiments of Indians.
Adityanath attributed the remarks to frustration, disappointment and ideological bankruptcy within the Congress. He demanded an apology from the party and called for strict action against Kharge.
BJP leader Smriti Z Irani also criticised the Congress president, alleging that the party had increasingly resorted to personal insults because it lacked the ability to debate policies and had lost public confidence.
Irani said derogatory remarks about the family of a political opponent did not demonstrate courage but exposed a lack of values and ideological substance. She added that people would respond democratically to what she described as arrogance and undignified conduct.
Fadnavis, Scindia and other BJP leaders target Congress
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress of spreading hatred despite its slogan of “mohabbat ki dukaan” (shop of love).
In a post on X, Fadnavis said Kharge’s remarks had exposed what he described as the Congress’s internal thinking. He predicted further electoral defeats for the party, arguing that its own language and conduct would contribute to its political setbacks.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also condemned Kharge’s statement, accusing the Congress of undermining political decorum out of arrogance and frustration. He said ideological differences were an essential part of democracy but stressed that political leaders must maintain dignity in their language and conduct. Scindia demanded an immediate apology from Kharge.
West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the remark reflected the Congress’s declining standards of political discourse. He attributed the comments to frustration over repeated electoral defeats and diminishing public support, claiming that the party had moved away from substantive issues towards provocative statements and abusive language.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya described Kharge’s remarks as shameful, arguing that Modi’s late father had no role in politics and should not have been dragged into a political dispute. He said political rivalry should never come at the expense of basic values of respect and decency.
BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged that Kharge had made the remark at the behest of Rahul Gandhi. He claimed that the Congress was frustrated by its inability to dislodge the government despite repeated attempts.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also described the comments as “shameful, undignified and petty” and demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. He said the public was watching the political exchange and would respond through democratic means, citing recent bypolls and municipal elections as evidence of the Congress’s electoral difficulties.
Kharge raises caste discrimination issue
Amid the BJP’s criticism, Kharge launched a counterattack by raising allegations of caste-based discrimination and referring to an alleged purification ritual conducted by the RSS and BJP following a Congress public meeting on August 8, 2026.
In a post on X, Kharge claimed that BJP leader JP Nadda had expressed regret in Parliament over the incident but that no action had followed. Instead, he alleged, an FIR had been registered against Rahul Gandhi.
Kharge accused Modi of speaking about the Constitution while protecting those who practised untouchability. He appealed to the people of Bihar to work towards eliminating the practice, stating that ending discrimination was essential for peace and progress.
His remarks shifted attention back to the Congress’s allegations of caste-based discrimination even as the BJP continued to demand an apology over his statement about the Prime Minister’s late father.
Congress leaders defend Kharge
Congress leaders rallied behind their president, questioning the BJP’s criticism and accusing it of applying different standards when judging political remarks.
Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel defended Kharge, asking what was abusive about his response and pointing out that the Congress president had been interrupted while addressing the gathering.
“What is so abusive about that? Someone was shouting while the speech was being delivered,” Baghel said, describing Kharge’s words as a response to the interruption rather than an insult.
Baghel accused Modi of having used insulting language against political opponents in the past. He referred to controversies involving the expressions “50-crore girlfriend”, “Jersey cow” and “mangalsutra”, questioning why BJP leaders remained silent when the Prime Minister made remarks that the Congress considered objectionable.
He argued that political rhetoric should be judged by the same standards, regardless of which party or leader was involved.
Congress MP Pawan Khera also defended Kharge, alleging that the Congress president had been disrespected twice by the BJP and the RSS. He referred to an earlier alleged purification ritual following a Congress meeting in Uttarakhand and the interruption during Sunday’s event in Patna.
Khera claimed that a BJP worker had rudely interrupted Kharge by insisting that Modi would not leave office. He argued that Kharge’s response was directed at the Sangh and its ideological leadership, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, rather than being an insult against Modi’s family.
Accusing Modi and Shah of being behind the repeated targeting of the Congress president, Khera said the country was watching the developments and would not forgive such conduct.
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi said political rhetoric should not be judged selectively. He argued that leaders who had previously normalised personal jibes against political opponents could not suddenly claim moral outrage over similar exchanges.
Referring to past controversies involving the expressions “50 crore ki girlfriend”, “Jersey gaai” and “Surpnakha”, Singhvi maintained that the same standards must apply to everyone and that selective indignation could not improve public discourse.
The controversy has once again highlighted the deepening political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties accusing each other of lowering the standards of political debate. While the BJP has demanded an apology from Kharge and stepped up its protests, the Congress has defended its president and questioned the ruling party’s claims of upholding political decorum.