Delhi BJP protests Kharge's remarks against PM Modi, 2,000 detained

Delhi BJP on Monday staged a protest near Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence over his alleged disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with police stopping demonstrators as they attempted to march towards Rajaji Marg.

Around 2,000 BJP workers and leaders, including Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, were detained after protesters attempted to break through police barricades near Sena Bhawan circle, according to a statement issued by the party.

Amid heavy police deployment, the detained protesters were taken in buses to Mandir Marg police station, from where they were later released, the statement said.

The demonstration was part of nationwide protests called by the BJP following Kharge's remarks at an event in Patna on Sunday.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

BJP workers gathered at Sena Bhawan circle and raised slogans against Kharge, accusing him of insulting the Prime Minister. They demanded an apology from the Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

The protesters attempted to march towards Kharge's residence on Rajaji Marg but were stopped by police barricades.

According to the Delhi BJP, several party leaders and workers were detained when they tried to move forward despite the restrictions.

𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗿𝗼𝘄

The controversy arose during a function commemorating the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar's first chief minister Shrikrishna Singh in Patna on Sunday.

During his address, Kharge said the Congress would send those allegedly involved in irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to jail.

At that point, a member of the audience interrupted his speech and shouted, "Modi won't go anywhere."

"Modi ka baap bhi jayega, baap bhi jayega (even Modi's father would go)," Kharge responded from the dais.

The remark drew criticism from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress president of making an objectionable reference to the Prime Minister's father.

𝗕𝗝𝗣 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀

Addressing the protesters, Malhotra alleged that Congress leaders were defending Kharge despite his remarks against Modi.

"The Congress and its leaders are frustrated after suffering continuous electoral defeats. They cannot understand what to do and repeatedly resort to creating an atmosphere of anarchy and behave as though they are above the law," Malhotra said.

Delhi BJP in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also criticised the Congress leadership, alleging that its leaders had treated political power as hereditary property for generations.

He said the Congress should recognise that voters had rejected what he described as its "dynasty politics".

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

The protest was attended by members of the BJP's youth, Purvanchal and OBC morchas, along with several senior Delhi BJP functionaries.

Among those present were Delhi BJP general secretary Mohan Lal Gihara, vice president Rajesh Bhatia, Purvanchal Morcha president Santosh Ojha, Yuva Morcha president Rajat Chaudhary and OBC Morcha president Santosh Pal.

The demonstration ended after police detained and subsequently released the protesters, while the political confrontation over Kharge's remarks continued.