'Insult to 140 Crore Indians': BJP Slams Kharge Over PM Modi Remark
BJP demands an unconditional apology from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge after his controversial "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" comment.
A massive political storm has erupted across India after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge allegedly made a derogatory remark targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the Congress leadership, describing the comments as a "grievous insult" to the democratic mandate of the nation and demanding an immediate, unconditional apology.
The Spark: What Happened in Patna?
The controversy began during the celebrations of the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first Chief Minister, Shri Krishna Singh, held in Patna on Sunday. While Mallikarjun Kharge was addressing the gathering, a member of the audience interjected, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would remain in power and "would not go anywhere."
In a sharp and spontaneous retort to the attendee, Kharge reportedly remarked, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" (even Modi's father will go). The statement immediately went viral, triggering a nationwide backlash from the ruling party.
BJP's Fierce Reaction
BJP National Spokesperson CR Kesavan condemned the remarks in the strongest possible terms, stating that the Congress party has dragged public discourse to its "lowest of lows." Kesavan asserted that Kharge's words are a reflection of the "uncivilised and uncultured politics of poisonous hate" championed by Rahul Gandhi.
"Mallikarjun Kharge's unpardonable and indefensible remarks are also a grievous insult to the mandate given by 140 crore Indians, and Mr Kharge has violated and breached all standards of public conduct," Kesavan told ANI.
The BJP spokesperson further alleged that the Congress is "morally and politically bankrupt," recalling past instances where Congress leaders allegedly made venomous attacks and caricatures of the Prime Minister's late mother.
Calls for Retirement and Accountability
The criticism extended to West Bengal Minister and BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, who suggested that the Congress President should consider retiring. Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Ghosh attributed the outburst to political frustration and old age.
Ghosh claimed that Kharge's career is effectively over and that his frustration stems from the declining state of the Congress party. He also accused Rahul Gandhi of making baseless political statements from foreign soil, adding that the Congress has a history of targeting the Prime Minister's family members.
Congress Defends the Remark
Despite the uproar, the Congress party has stood by its chief. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari argued that the statement was not presented accurately to the public and the media. The party maintains that the phrasing used by Kharge was colloquial and was not intended as a personal insult.
High-Level Condemnation
The row has reached the highest levels of government, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah taking to social media platform X to lash out at the Congress leadership. Shah accused the opposition party of routinely lowering the bar of political discourse in the country.
As the BJP continues to demand a formal apology, the political climate remains tense, with the ruling party framing the incident as a breach of all standards of public conduct by the head of the primary opposition party.