BJP stages nationwide protests over Kharge’s remarks on PM Modi, Delhi leaders detained

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests across several cities on Monday against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his controversial remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father, demanding an apology from the Congress chief.

In Delhi, BJP workers and leaders gathered outside Kharge’s residence on Rajaji Marg, carrying placards and raising slogans against him. Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra and several other party leaders were detained by police during the demonstration.

The protests also took place in Lucknow and Bengaluru, while BJP workers in Patna held a march and burnt an effigy of the Congress president. The demonstrations followed a political controversy triggered by Kharge’s remarks at an event in Bihar’s capital on Sunday.

Speaking during the Delhi protest, Malhotra said the demonstrators wanted Kharge to explain his comments about the Prime Minister and his father.

“They want to ask him why he used such abusive language regarding the Prime Minister of the country and his father. The desperation of Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress party, and Rahul Gandhi is reaching its peak,” Malhotra said, according to news agency ANI.

What Kharge said in Patna

The controversy erupted when Kharge was addressing an event in Patna to mark the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh.

During his speech, the Congress president spoke about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and said that those involved in alleged irregularities would be sent to jail if his party came to power.

An audience member interrupted him, saying that Prime Minister Modi would not go anywhere as long as there was no rebellion in the country.

Responding to the interruption, Kharge said, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, which translates to “Even Modi’s father will have to go”.

The remark triggered criticism from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress president of using objectionable language about the Prime Minister’s late father. The BJP subsequently announced protests across the country to condemn the statement and demand an apology from Kharge.

The audience member later identified himself as Santhosh Kumar, a Congress worker from Chhapra. He said his intervention had been misunderstood and clarified that he had meant that Modi would remain in power unless there was a rebellion in the country.

Delhi BJP chief detained during protest

In the national capital, BJP workers gathered near Kharge’s residence on Rajaji Marg, demanding a public apology from the Congress president. Security arrangements were tightened in the area, with police barricades put in place as demonstrators raised slogans against him.

Malhotra led the protest, during which he and several other BJP leaders were detained by the police. The party accused Kharge of insulting the Prime Minister and his family and argued that political differences should not lead to personal attacks.

The Delhi demonstration formed part of the BJP’s wider campaign against the Congress president’s remarks, with party leaders seeking an apology from both Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Protests spread to Lucknow, Bengaluru and Patna

BJP supporters also took to the streets in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, to protest against Kharge’s comments concerning the Prime Minister. Party functionaries accused the Congress leadership of repeatedly making offensive remarks about Modi and demanded a public apology.

In Bengaluru, BJP leaders and workers staged a demonstration at Freedom Park. Several party leaders were detained during the protest, including Karnataka Assembly Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka and former minister CN Ashwath Narayan, according to reports.

In Patna, the BJP’s metropolitan unit organised a protest march from the party headquarters towards Income Tax Golambar, raising slogans against Kharge. Protesters also burnt an effigy of the Congress president.

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi criticised the remarks and said the party would hold demonstrations at state headquarters across the country. He accused the Congress of using offensive language about the Prime Minister’s late parents and said the public would not tolerate such comments.

Saraogi also called on Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to apologise.

BJP leaders condemn remarks, Congress defends its president

The controversy drew reactions from several senior BJP leaders, who criticised Kharge’s language and demanded an apology.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of engaging in what he described as a politics of slander. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also criticised the remarks, saying political disagreements and criticism of government policies were part of a democratic system, but targeting a leader’s family degraded political discourse.

BJP leaders maintained that Kharge’s comments were inappropriate for a senior political figure and accused the Congress of resorting to personal attacks amid its political differences with the ruling party.

The Congress, however, defended its president. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said Kharge had been interrupted in an objectionable manner by a person in the audience. Khera also argued that the reference was to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which he described as Modi’s ideological parent, rather than his biological father.

Congress MP Imran Masood also backed Kharge, arguing that BJP leaders had themselves made personal remarks against Congress leaders in the past.

The dispute has intensified the political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, with both sides trading accusations over the language used by their leaders.

BJP worker files police complaint

Separately, a BJP worker in Patna filed a police complaint against Kharge over the remarks, according to reports. The complaint was submitted at Kotwali police station on Sunday evening and was to be transferred to Gandhi Maidan police station, under whose jurisdiction the event took place.

The complainant, Krishna Kumar Singh, sought an apology from Kharge within 24 hours.

The controversy comes amid wider political tensions between the BJP and the Congress over the SIR exercise and other issues. The BJP has demanded an apology for Kharge’s remarks, while the Congress has defended its president and accused the ruling party of selectively objecting to political rhetoric.

The protests on Monday underscored how the exchange in Patna has escalated into a nationwide political row, with demonstrations, detentions and competing demands for accountability from the two parties.