A remark made during a political speech in Patna has triggered a fresh confrontation between the BJP and Congress, bringing the language used by political leaders back into focus. The controversy began on Sunday, 25 October, when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge responded to an interruption during an event with a comment about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s father.
The BJP has condemned the remark and announced protests across the country on Monday, 26 October. A BJP worker has also filed a police complaint against Kharge in Patna, demanding an apology within 24 hours.
But what exactly happened at the event, why has the BJP reacted so strongly, and what do the protests mean for the ongoing political battle between the two parties?
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What Did Mallikarjun Kharge Say?
The controversy unfolded during a programme in Patna marking the 139th birth anniversary of Shri Krishna Singh, Bihar’s first chief minister.
Kharge was addressing the gathering when an audience member interrupted him with a remark about Modi remaining in power. Kharge responded, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, which translates roughly to “Even Modi’s father will go”.
The Congress president repeated the remark, prompting a commotion at the venue.
The exchange came during a speech in which Kharge had criticised the BJP-led government and raised allegations about irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He said the Congress would send those allegedly involved in such irregularities to jail.
The man involved in the exchange, identified in media reports as Santosh Kumar, later said his words had been misunderstood. He said that he remarked that PM Modi would not leave office unless there was a revolt, but that only part of his sentence had been heard.
His explanation added another layer to the controversy surrounding the exchange.
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Why Is The BJP Protesting?
The BJP has described Kharge’s remark as insulting and inappropriate, arguing that political disagreements should not extend to personal comments about a leader’s family.
The party announced nationwide demonstrations for Monday, 26 October, asking its state units to organise protests at their respective headquarters.
In Bihar, the BJP also announced a separate protest programme in Patna, including a march from the party headquarters and the burning of an effigy.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Kharge in a post on X, accusing the Congress president of crossing the limits of political decorum. Shah also targeted the Congress leadership, arguing that repeated electoral defeats had contributed to the party’s political approach.
The BJP has framed the controversy as part of a broader pattern of personal attacks against PM Modi and his family. Its response has moved beyond criticism on social media, with the party mobilising workers for demonstrations across the country.
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What Is The Police Action In This Case?
The political backlash has also entered the police process.
On Sunday evening, BJP worker Krishna Kumar Singh filed a complaint against Kharge at Patna’s Kotwali police station over the remark. According to reports, the complaint was to be transferred to Gandhi Maidan police station because the incident falls under its jurisdiction.
Singh demanded that Kharge apologise within 24 hours.
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How Has The Congress Responded?
The BJP’s criticism has not gone unanswered.
Congress MP Imran Masood defended Kharge’s remark, saying it was justified and in the same language as used by BJP leaders earlier. His response reflects the political divide over whether Kharge’s words crossed a line or were a reaction to the interruption.
The disagreement has therefore become about more than the original exchange. It has also raised questions about how political leaders respond to heckling, how far verbal attacks should go and whether personal remarks are displacing debates over policy.
Kharge’s comments came amid criticism of the BJP and the Election Commission over the SIR exercise, which has become a point of political contention between the ruling party and the Opposition.
What Will Happen At The Protests?
The BJP’s nationwide campaign is scheduled for Monday, 26 October, with demonstrations planned at state party headquarters across India. In Patna, the Bihar BJP has announced a march and an effigy-burning programme.
The stated purpose is to protest Kharge’s remarks and register the party’s opposition to what it considers an insult to the Prime Minister’s family.
The demonstrations are likely to keep the exchange in the political spotlight, with BJP leaders using the issue to challenge the Congress leadership and Congress figures defending Kharge’s response.
The scale and course of individual protests may vary by state. The announcement establishes the party’s planned programme, but it does not confirm that every demonstration will follow an identical format.
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The Bigger Question: Where Should Political Criticism Draw The Line?
The BJP-Congress confrontation highlights a recurring tension in Indian politics: how can leaders sharply criticise their opponents without turning political disagreements into personal attacks?
For the BJP, Kharge’s remark crossed a line by bringing the Prime Minister’s family into the exchange. Congress supporters, meanwhile, have defended his response in the context of the interruption and the wider political dispute.
The incident also shows how a brief exchange at a public event can quickly expand into a national political controversy, prompting party statements, public criticism, protests and a police complaint.
As demonstrations take place on Monday, the immediate question is how the two parties will use the controversy. The larger question is whether political debate can return to the issues voters are concerned about, rather than remaining focused on the language used by political leaders.
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TL;DR | News At A Glance
Why is the BJP organising nationwide protests against Mallikarjun Kharge?
The BJP has announced nationwide protests against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after his remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s father at an event in Patna, Bihar, on 25 October 2026.
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say about PM Narendra Modi?
Kharge said, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, during an exchange with an audience member at an event marking the birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shri Krishna Singh. The remark triggered a political controversy.
When will the BJP’s nationwide protests take place?
The BJP announced protests for Monday, 26 October 2026, following Kharge’s remark at the Patna event a day earlier.
Where will the BJP hold protests against Mallikarjun Kharge?
The BJP has called for demonstrations at party headquarters across India. Its Bihar unit has also announced a protest march and an effigy-burning programme in Patna.
Why has the BJP criticised Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark?
The BJP has described Kharge’s comment as inappropriate and insulting to the Prime Minister’s family. Senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have criticised the Congress president over his choice of words.
Has the BJP filed a police complaint against Mallikarjun Kharge?
Yes. A BJP worker filed a police complaint against Kharge in Patna over his remark. A later report published on 26 October 2026 stated that an FIR had been registered.
What did Amit Shah say about Mallikarjun Kharge?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Kharge’s remark, arguing that political disagreements should not cross the boundaries of acceptable public discourse. He also targeted the Congress leadership over its approach to political criticism.
How has the Congress responded to the BJP’s criticism of Kharge?
Congress MP Imran Masood defended Kharge, saying his response was justified and in the same language as used by BJP leaders earlier.
What was Mallikarjun Kharge discussing before the controversial remark?
Kharge was addressing a gathering in Patna where he criticised the BJP-led government and raised concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What is the larger issue behind the BJP-Congress controversy?
The controversy has renewed debate about political rhetoric in India, particularly where leaders should draw the line between sharp criticism of political opponents and personal remarks about their families.
What happens next in the BJP’s nationwide protest campaign?
The BJP’s announced demonstrations on 26 October 2026. The protests are intended to condemn Kharge’s remark, while the police complaint has added a legal dimension to the political confrontation.
