Patna, Oct 25 Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday sparked a controversy with his remarks “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, in response to an audience member’s comment that “the PM would not go anywhere”, during an event here to mark the birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh.
The incident took place while Kharge was speaking at the programme in Patna to celebrate the 139th birth anniversary of Singh, who was also an eminent freedom fighter.
Responding to Kharge’s statement that the Congress will send those involved in carrying out alleged irregularities in the SIR process to jail, a person from the audience shouted, “As long as there is no rebellion, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi won’t go anywhere.”
The Congress president shot back, saying, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Let alone Modi, even his father would go).
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary condemned Kharge’s remarks and sought an apology from the Congress.
“The statement given by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge against Narendra Modi’s father is extremely unfortunate. It shows that the Congress holds ill will towards the family of the PM,” Choudhary said in a video message on X.
Describing Kharge’s act as a “crime,” the CM said the Congress chief and party leader Rahul Gandhi should apologise for the “derogatory” language used against the PM’s father.
Other NDA leaders in Bihar described Kharge’s comments as “unfortunate” and “reflective of the Congress’s frustration and lack of political decorum”.
“Using such language against the prime minister amounts to disrespecting the mandate of the people. Kharge is following a script written by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and their family. Insulting Modi and his family has long been a Congress habit,” Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said in a statement.
Saraogi said that despite political differences, all leaders must maintain dignity in their language and respect democratic values in public life.
He asserted that “abusive language” will neither diminish Modi’s stature nor reduce public support for him, while the Congress would face the people’s wrath for lowering the standard of political discourse.
“The Congress should introspect instead of blaming others for its electoral setbacks. Voters prioritise development, good governance and accountable leadership over personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations,” Saraogi said.
In a video statement, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said his party condemns Kharge’s remarks in the strongest possible terms.
“There is little hope of any significant change in the Congress party’s conduct, character or approach,” Prasad said.
Rejecting Kharge’s allegations on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Bihar elections, Prasad said the state polls were conducted with complete “honesty, impartiality and transparency”.
He said the Congress has no justification for questioning the electoral mandate.
“People have reduced the party to just six seats, and pushed it into a position from which it will never be able to recover,” Prasad said.
(PTI News)
