BJP protests Kharge's 'Modi ka baap' remark, demands public apology
Synopsis
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' remark at a Bihar event triggered street protests by the Odisha BJP within 24 hours, with effigies of Kharge and Rahul Gandhi burnt in Bhubaneswar. The BJP is demanding a public apology, framing the remark as a new low in Opposition rhetoric — and the row shows no sign of cooling.
Key Takeaways
Odisha BJP staged a protest at Master Canteen Square, Bhubaneswar on 26 October over remarks by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge .
Kharge allegedly said 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' at an event in Patna on Sunday while responding to an audience remark about PM Modi.
The BJP called the remark derogatory to PM Modi's father and demanded a public apology from Kharge.
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said political differences do not justify violations of dignity and decorum.
Protesters burnt effigies of Kharge and Rahul Gandhi ; senior leaders including Saroj Kumar Kar and Arabinda Dhali took part.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Odisha unit on Monday, 26 October staged a protest in Bhubaneswar, condemning remarks attributed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanding a public apology from him. The demonstration followed Kharge's comments at an event in Patna, Bihar the previous day, which the BJP described as crossing the limits of political decency.
What Kharge Said
The controversy erupted on Sunday when Kharge, responding to an audience member's remark that Prime Minister Modi would not go anywhere, reportedly said: 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega.' The BJP alleged the remark was a derogatory reference to the Prime Minister's father and amounted to an insult targeting Modi and his family. Kharge has not publicly clarified or retracted the statement as of Monday.
Odisha BJP's Response
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal led the condemnation, asserting that ideological differences in a democracy do not justify violations of political dignity. 'Ideals, ideology and decorum have a distinct place in politics. Politics is based on idealism and ideology,' Samal said. He added that differences of opinion are natural, but one should not violate one's own dignity and political ideals under the pretext of disagreement.
Samal further argued that the Congress's frustration at being out of power for an extended period was being reflected in its political statements. 'The Congress needs to understand its responsibilities and role as the Opposition,' he said. 'Having ruled the country for many years, the Congress has become frustrated and disappointed because it is no longer in power, and the impact of this is reflected in its political statements.'
Protest on the Streets
BJP leaders and workers took out a rally from the party's state headquarters to Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar on Monday, where they staged a demonstration against Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Protesters raised slogans including 'Congress's vulgar mindset, from failure to indecency' and 'Indecent and frustrated Congress,' and burnt effigies of both leaders.
Among those who participated were state BJP secretary Saroj Kumar Kar, former minister Arabinda Dhali, senior leader Priyadarshi Mishra, and state executive committee member Jagannath Pradhan, along with several party workers.
Broader Political Context
The Odisha BJP alleged that this was not an isolated incident, claiming the Congress had previously made insulting remarks targeting Modi and his family. The party maintained that such conduct reflected not only Kharge's personal behaviour but also the broader disposition of the Congress leadership. Critics argue that political rhetoric in India has sharply deteriorated in recent years, with both sides frequently accusing the other of crossing decorum thresholds. This episode is likely to fuel further exchanges ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
Point of View
Neither of which is comfortable. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that such episodes increasingly crowd out substantive policy debate, leaving voters with political theatre rather than accountability. The pattern — Opposition speaks, BJP protests, news cycle repeats — has become so routine that it now risks desensitising the very audience it is meant to persuade.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say that triggered the BJP protest?
Kharge allegedly said 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' at a public event in Patna, Bihar on Sunday, in response to an audience member's remark that PM Modi would not go anywhere. The BJP characterised the remark as derogatory to the Prime Minister's father and demanded a public apology.
Where and when did the Odisha BJP stage its protest?
The BJP held a rally from its state headquarters to Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar on Monday, 26 October. Protesters burnt effigies of Kharge and Rahul Gandhi and raised slogans condemning what they called the Congress's indecent political conduct.
What has the Odisha BJP president said about the controversy?
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said political ideology and decorum have a distinct place in democracy, and that differences of opinion cannot justify violations of dignity. He also argued that the Congress's frustration at being out of power was driving its political statements.
Has the Congress or Kharge responded to the BJP's apology demand?
There is no publicly available statement from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge or the Congress party clarifying or retracting the remark as of Monday, 26 October.
Who participated in the BJP protest in Bhubaneswar?
State BJP secretary Saroj Kumar Kar, former minister Arabinda Dhali, senior leader Priyadarshi Mishra, and state executive committee member Jagannath Pradhan were among those who participated, along with several party workers.
