The BJP and Congress traded sharp barbs on Sunday after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi triggered a political row, with the BJP demanding an apology and announcing plans to stage a protest in Patna on Monday.
Kharge made the remark at an event marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh, while speaking about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
After an audience member interrupted him, Kharge responded with the controversial remark, drawing sharp condemnation from several BJP leaders.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP leader J.P. Nadda and others accused Kharge of crossing the boundaries of political decorum by dragging the Prime Minister’s late father into the political debate.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP leader Smriti Irani, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also criticised the remarks and demanded an apology.
The BJP announced plans to burn Kharge’s effigy at Patna’s Income Tax Circle on Monday in protest against his comments.
Responding to the controversy, Kharge raised allegations of caste discrimination, referring to an alleged purification ritual following a Congress meeting in August 2026. He claimed that no action had been taken in the matter despite an apology in Parliament.
Congress leaders Bhupesh Baghel, Pawan Khera and Abhishek Manu Singhvi defended Kharge, accusing the BJP of selectively objecting to personal remarks while overlooking previous jibes attributed to Modi and other party leaders.
They questioned the ruling party’s consistency in condemning political language, alleging that it applied different standards to its own leaders and opposition figures.
