BJP protests Kharge’s remark on PM’s father in Bihar and Jharkhand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) units in Bihar and Jharkhand on Monday (October 26, 2026) staged protests against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his controversial remark, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Modi’s father will also be defeated), made at a party event in Patna. BJP leaders and workers in both States took out marches and burnt effigies of the Congress leader.

In Patna, hundreds of BJP workers, led by State unit president Sanjay Saraogi, took to the streets and raised slogans against Mr. Kharge. Before burning his effigy, some protesters slapped it to register their protest. They also carried placards and posters bearing slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The protesters gathered near the State BJP office and marched through the Income Tax roundabout to Dak Bungalow Chauraha, where they burnt an effigy of the Congress president. Several senior party leaders and office-bearers, including Cooperative Minister Ram Kripal Yadav and MLA and Chief Whip Sanjeev Chaurasia, participated in the protest.

Slamming the Congress, Mr. Saraogi said, “One may disagree with the Prime Minister’s politics, but the use of derogatory language regarding his late parents is unacceptable under any circumstances. This is not the first time indecent language has been used on the soil of Bihar concerning the Prime Minister’s late mother as well.”

He recalled that derogatory remarks against the Prime Minister’s mother had previously been made in his home district of Darbhanga. Mr. Saraogi said that remarks about a deceased family member violate political decorum, and the people of Bihar would not tolerate such language.

“The frustration felt by the Congress and the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ [Grand Alliance] leaders is due to rejection by the public. Instead of addressing issues of public concern from political platforms, Congress leaders are showing their frustration through inappropriate and undignified remarks,” Mr. Saraogi said.

He expressed confidence that the public would respond democratically and that the Congress would have to face the political consequences of the remarks.

In Ranchi, BJP workers and leaders gheraoed the Congress State office to protest against Mr. Kharge’s remarks. The march was led by State president Aditya Sahu and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi.

Hundreds of BJP workers gathered at the District School premises near Shaheed Chowk before marching towards the Congress office, raising slogans against the party.

Mr. Sahu said that while differences of opinion between political parties are expected in a democracy, targeting someone’s deceased family member in political discourse is inappropriate. He demanded an apology from the Congress president.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi was elected through the mandate of the people. While opposing his political views and policies is a democratic right, making indecent remarks at a personal or familial level under the guise of opposition is, under no circumstances, acceptable,” Mr. Sahu said.

Mr. Marandi also termed the remarks inappropriate and unfortunate. He demanded that either the Congress or Mr. Kharge apologise to the nation immediately. He said Mr. Modi is not merely a BJP leader but a democratically elected Prime Minister who represents the country’s 1.4 billion citizens.

Mr. Kharge made the remark in response to an audience member who said that “Modi nehi jayega [Modi will not be defeated]”.