BJP Storms Bengaluru Streets Over Kharge's 'Modi's Father' Remark
BJP workers detained in Bengaluru after protesting Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial comment about PM Modi's father.
Tensions flared in Bengaluru on Monday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a massive protest against Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge. The unrest, sparked by controversial comments made by the Congress chief, culminated in police intervention and the detention of several protesters.
The Spark: A Heated Exchange in Patna
The controversy traces back to a public gathering in Patna, Bihar, where Mallikarjun Kharge was addressing the 139th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Krishna Singh, the first Chief Minister of Bihar. The event took a sharp turn when an attendee interrupted the Congress president, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be leaving his position.
In a fiery retort from the stage, Kharge responded with the provocative statement, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" (Even Modi's father will have to go), triggering an immediate political firestorm.
Rajnath Singh Slams 'Political Culture' of Congress
The remark drew a stern reaction from Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who expressed deep shock and hurt over the mention of the Prime Minister's late father. Speaking to the media, Singh emphasized that the comment was not the act of a junior worker but came from the very top of the Congress hierarchy.
"Yesterday, in Patna, a remark made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge about the late father of Prime Minister Narendra Modi left me shocked and deeply hurt," Rajnath Singh stated.
The Defence Minister further criticized the Congress party for its refusal to apologize, accusing the party of defending the statement rather than expressing regret. He asserted that such conduct hurts the sentiments of crores of people and raises serious questions about the political culture of the oldest party in the country.
Congress Defends the Retort
While the BJP intensified its protests, the Congress party stood by its leader. Saharanpur Congress MP Imran Masood strongly defended Mallikarjun Kharge, arguing that the opposition would no longer remain silent in the face of verbal attacks.
Masood justified the "fiery retort," claiming that senior BJP leaders have frequently lowered the standards of political discourse without being held accountable. He framed the remark as a reaction to the existing political climate rather than an unprovoked attack.
Chaos in Bengaluru
The fallout reached Karnataka on Monday, where BJP workers took to the streets of Bengaluru to condemn the remarks. The protest quickly escalated, leading the police to step in and detain the demonstrators to maintain law and order in the city.