BJP Protests In Bihar And Jharkhand Over Mallikarjun Kharge Remark On Prime Minister Narendra Modi Late Father
Intense political friction erupted across eastern states as the Bharatiya Janata Party organized widespread protest demonstrations in Bihar and Jharkhand. Thousands of party workers took to the streets in state capitals and district headquarters to express strong anger over recent comments made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi late father. Carrying saffron flags, placards, and effigies, demonstrators blocked major road intersections, chanted slogans against the opposition leadership, and burnt effigies of the Congress chief outside key administrative and party buildings.
The controversy began during a public event held in Patna to mark the birth anniversary of Bihar first chief minister Shrikrishna Singh. While addressing the gathering from the podium, Kharge responded to a comment from the crowd regarding the political future of the government by making a controversial reference involving the Prime Minister father. The remark quickly spread on social media and broadcast channels, drawing immediate condemnation from ruling party leaders who described the statement as indecent, unparliamentary, and a clear violation of basic political decency.
In Patna, the capital city of Bihar, hundreds of party demonstrators marched through central avenues, demanding an unconditional public apology from Kharge and the central Congress leadership. State cabinet ministers, legislative members, and youth wing volunteers gathered near historic squares, raising slogans and condemning what they termed as personal attacks on the prime minister family. Police units deployed barricades along major roadways to maintain public order and prevent demonstrators from marching directly toward the state Congress headquarters.
Similar scenes unfolded in Jharkhand, where political tension quickly escalated on city streets. In Ranchi, BJP workers led by senior state functionaries attempted to gherao the state Congress office, resulting in tense face-offs with police personnel stationed along the boundary. Protesters carried signs reading that the nation will not tolerate insults to the prime minister and insisted that political competition should focus on policy debates rather than attacks on deceased family members. Additional security detachments were deployed around regional offices to avoid clashes between rival party workers.
Senior BJP leaders across both states stated that the controversial speech reflects growing political frustration within the opposition coalition. Party spokespersons asserted that introducing family members into electoral arguments degrades the quality of public debate and insults the sentiments of citizens across the nation. Demands were raised not only for Kharge to withdraw his remarks, but also for senior leaders in the Congress party to formally distance themselves from the comments and offer a clear explanation to the public.
In response to the protests, Congress spokespersons defended their party chief, arguing that the statement was taken out of context. Congress media leaders stated that the remark was a rhetorical figure of speech aimed at the ideological parent organization of the ruling party rather than an individual parent. State opposition figures maintained that they would not be intimidated by street agitation, accusing the ruling party of attempting to divert attention away from pressing public concerns like rural unemployment, rising prices, and infrastructure challenges.
The nationwide protest wave extended to other major centers, including demonstrations reported from New Delhi, Jammu, Lucknow, and Bengaluru. With important regional elections on the horizon, the heated confrontation highlights how personal rhetoric continues to dominate political campaigns, setting up intense political debates across key northern and eastern states.