Updated on: Oct 25, 2026, 20:45:13 IST Edited by Anita Goswami Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The Congress has defended party president Mallikarjun Kharge over his “baap” remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it came in response to heckling during an event in Bihar's Patna on Sunday.

The BJP, though, criticised Kharge for making an inappropriate remark about the Modi's late father.

Amit Shah attacked Congress after Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘Modi ka baap’ remark. (Hindustan Times) Kharge was attending the 139th birth anniversary celebration of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shri Krishna Singh, when a person in the audience heckled, “Modi kahin nahin jayega” (Modi will not go anywhere).

Kharge then called out, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega, baap bhi jayega (Even his father will go).” Amit Shah attacks Congress over Kharge’s remark Union home minister Amit Shah, in response, accused the Congress of repeatedly using abusive language against the Prime Minister and his family.

On X, Shah said Kharge had “torn apart all norms of decorum by making an indecent remark about Modi ji's father in Patna." “This is not the first time that the Congress party has used abusive language against Modi ji or his family.

At times, they have hurled insults at his revered mother, at times called him 'merchant of death,' and at times mocked his poverty by calling him 'chaiwala,'” he alleged.

“Under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the Congress party keeps crossing the limits of indecency every day,” Shah said.

Pawan Khera accuses BJP, RSS of repeatedly disrespecting Kharge Congress MP Pawan Khera accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of repeatedly disrespecting party president Mallikarjun Kharge, referring to the Patna incident and the purification ritual held after a Congress rally in Uttarakhand's Haldwani back in August.

Khera claimed that a BJP worker heckled Kharge during his speech in Bihar, prompting the Congress chief’s “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” retort.

He alleged that the repeated incidents were happening at the behest of Modi and Amit Shah, adding that “the nation was watching”.

“Today, in Bihar, while Kharge ji was delivering a speech, a BJP worker rudely said that Modi will not go anywhere; even if your own father were to come, he still wouldn't leave.

Such absurd and offensive language was used against a veteran, senior leader.

In response, Kharge ji retorted that Modi will indeed go and so will his father referring to his ideological mentor: the Sangh, and (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat.

This repeated disrespect toward our national president is happening at the direct behest of Modi and Shah.

The nation will not forgive this,” Kharge told news agency ANI.

BJP calls Congress a ‘mafia gang’ The BJP called the remarks a reflection of the Congress party’s “bankrupt thinking”.

On X, the BJP said the language used by the head of the country’s principal Opposition party was shameful and alleged that Congress leaders had repeatedly made objectionable remarks about the Prime Minister’s family, including his late mother.

“Kharge ji's statement is a shameful, sorrowful, and utterly condemnable statement, but what more can one expect from a mafia gang,” the BJP wrote and demanded Kharge apologise to the people of the country.

Ex-education minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the Congress of resorting to personal attacks against Modi instead of challenging him on policies and ideas.

On X, Pradhan said the comment about Modi’s late father reflected the Congress’s “growing frustration” and questioned whether the party had run out of issues to raise against the Prime Minister.

BJP spokesperson Tuhin A Sinha also criticised Kharge’s statement, describing it as “disgusting, petulant, uncouth”.

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal also hit out at Kharge, saying India was a democracy and not the Congress’s “darbaar” where leaders could “abuse at will”.

BJP president Nitin Nabin also criticised Kharge over his remark, calling it a reflection of the party’s “ideological bankruptcy”.

On X, Nabin said political opposition should maintain dignity and accused the Congress of dragging deceased family members into political speeches.

“There is a certain dignity to political opposition as well, but dragging the departed family members into speeches from public platforms has now become the real 'culture' of Rahul Gandhi and the entire opposition.

This is not Kharge ji's personal statement, but a revelation of the entire Congress party's lack of decorum in its thinking,” Nabin wrote on X.

Union minister Giriraj Singh also attacked the Congress chief.

“I used to think only Rahul Gandhi (Leader of Opposition) is foolish.

Now it seems there's a whole bunch of them,” he said.

Giriraj Singh further claimed that Modi, who turned 76 in September, would remain in power for at least another 30 years.

“They have stooped so low in their sycophancy towards the owners and political flattery that they have now resorted to making cheap remarks about the father of the country's elected Prime Minister,” Singh said.

Kharge targets Modi over black money During his speech, Kharge also accused the Prime Minister of making false promises, citing Modi’s pledge to bring back black money within the first 100 days of his government.

“PM Modi has a habit of telling lies.

He had said that he would bring back black money in his first 100 days.

I want to ask, where is that money?” Kharge said, as per ANI.

The Congress president also criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that its ideology was responsible for communal divisions in the country.

“As long as the ideology of the RSS persists in this country, there will be no peace,” he said.

Kharge accused the organisation of engaging in communal activities since its inception and argued that its ideology was incompatible with social harmony.

Kharge questions Nitish Kumar’s alliance with BJP Kharge also criticised former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for aligning with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying it deviated from his socialist political roots.

“It saddens me that Nitish Kumar, who entered the political scene carrying the ideology of the Socialist Party, has ended up in the lap of the BJP and the RSS.

This is what happens when a person becomes weak and abandons their ideology,” he said.

The Congress chief also raised the issue of a purification ritual reportedly conducted at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after a Congress rally.

Referring to the incident on August 8, Kharge condemned the practice of untouchability and questioned how social unity could be achieved if such practices continued decades after Independence.

“80 years after Independence, how will there be unity if untouchability prevails?” he asked.

The incident had triggered criticism from Congress leaders, who alleged that the ritual amounted to untouchability.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anita Goswami Anita Goswami is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, where she primarily covers Indian and international news.

With four years of industry experience, she has led coverage of Indian General elections, Assembly elections, and national polls in the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Her reporting covers global wars and major events, including Operation Sindoor, Sheikh Hasina's ouster and the Mahakumbh Mela.

She verifies facts and uses clear sources to ensure accurate reporting.

As former Chief Copy Editor at Storytailors, she managed teams to produce top-quality content for networks like NDTV, Profit, CNBC-TV18, Upstox and News18.

Her work is featured in NDTV, Meaww, and Global Pulse.

Throughout her tenure, Anita has collaborated with and been mentored by top industry experts.

When not reading, Anita can be found outdoors or at a bakery.