Tripura BJP protests Kharge's remarks on PM Modi's father, CM Saha demands apology
Synopsis
A nationwide BJP protest over Mallikarjun Kharge's reported remarks about PM Modi's late father reached Agartala on Monday, with Chief Minister Manik Saha demanding an unconditional apology on behalf of '1.45 billion Indians.' The episode marks a sharp escalation in Congress-BJP political tensions, with the ruling party framing the remarks as a breach of democratic decorum.
Key Takeaways
BJP staged a protest rally in Agartala on 26 October as part of a nationwide programme against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's alleged remarks about PM Modi's late father.
Chief Minister Manik Saha demanded an unconditional apology, calling the remarks 'an insult to 1.45 billion Indians .' Saha condemned the remarks in a post on social media platform X , describing them as 'unforgivable and utterly condemnable.' State BJP vice-president Tapas Bhattacharjee and leader Bhagaban Das addressed the rally, alleging Congress desperation ahead of electoral contests.
BJP state president Abhishek Debroy and several ministers also posted condemnations on social media.
The Congress had not issued a public response to the apology demand as of Monday evening .
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tripura staged a protest rally in Agartala on Monday, 26 October, as part of a nationwide party programme against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's alleged 'derogatory' remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late father. Chief Minister Manik Saha demanded that Kharge tender an unconditional apology to the nation, describing the reported comments as an insult to 1.45 billion Indians.
What Triggered the Protest
The controversy stems from remarks Kharge reportedly made in Patna on Sunday concerning the Prime Minister's father. The BJP has accused the Congress leadership of breaching the norms of political discourse by targeting a sitting Prime Minister's family — particularly a member who is no longer alive. The party framed the protest as a response to what it called the Congress's 'ideological bankruptcy' and desperation ahead of electoral battles.
What Chief Minister Saha Said
Taking to social media platform X, Chief Minister Saha condemned Kharge's reported remarks in unambiguous terms. 'The Congress National President's disgraceful remarks targeting the late father of India's Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the world's most popular leader, are unforgivable and utterly condemnable,' Saha wrote. He added: 'This is an insult to 1.45 billion Indians and lays bare the frustration, desperation and ideological bankruptcy of the Congress party. Congress must immediately take strict action against its chief and tender an unconditional apology to the nation.'
Voices at the Agartala Rally
State BJP vice-president Tapas Bhattacharjee addressed the rally, alleging that the Congress leadership had grown desperate to dismantle the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and was repeatedly resorting to personal attacks on the Prime Minister. Bhattacharjee also claimed that a group he referred to as the 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP) was a 'product' of the Congress and Left parties, arguing that Kharge's remarks reflected the opposition's willingness to use any means to regain power. State BJP leader Bhagaban Das and several other senior party figures also addressed the gathering, echoing demands for an apology from the Congress president.
Broader Party Condemnation
State BJP president and MLA Abhishek Debroy, along with several ministers and senior leaders, posted strong condemnations of Kharge's reported remarks on their respective social media accounts. The BJP's position, repeated across multiple platforms, was that political disagreements must never extend to personal attacks on the families of political opponents — particularly deceased relatives. The Agartala rally was one node in the party's wider national campaign, with BJP leaders across multiple states voicing objections and renewing calls for an unconditional apology from the Congress chief.
What Comes Next
The Congress has not publicly responded to the demands for an apology as of Monday evening. With protests spreading across states, the episode is likely to fuel further political exchanges in the days ahead, particularly as both parties navigate a charged national atmosphere.
Point of View
Which is harder for the Congress to defend without appearing to validate the criticism. Yet the Congress's own silence amplifies the BJP's narrative. The episode also reveals how quickly state units can be activated for centrally-driven political messaging, a structural advantage the BJP has consistently exploited. The real question is whether this controversy sustains beyond a news cycle or dissipates before the Congress issues any formal response.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly say about PM Modi's father?
Kharge reportedly made remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late father during a public address in Patna on Sunday, 25 October. The BJP has described these as 'derogatory' and 'disgraceful,' though the Congress has not publicly clarified or responded to the specific content of the remarks as of Monday evening.
Why is the BJP staging protests across India over Kharge's remarks?
The BJP launched a nationwide protest programme condemning what it characterised as a personal attack on PM Modi's deceased father, arguing that such remarks breach the norms of democratic political discourse. Party leaders framed the protests as a defence of the dignity of the Prime Minister's family and, by extension, national sentiment.
What did Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha demand?
Chief Minister Manik Saha demanded that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tender an unconditional apology to the nation. Saha posted his condemnation on social media platform X, calling the remarks an insult to 1.45 billion Indians and urging the Congress to take strict action against its own chief.
Who spoke at the Agartala rally and what did they say?
State BJP vice-president Tapas Bhattacharjee and leader Bhagaban Das addressed the rally, alleging that the Congress and its allies had become desperate to unseat the NDA government and were resorting to personal attacks. BJP state president Abhishek Debroy and several ministers also issued condemnations on social media.
Has the Congress responded to the BJP's apology demand?
As of Monday evening, 26 October, the Congress had not issued a public response to the BJP's demand for an unconditional apology from Mallikarjun Kharge over his reported remarks about PM Modi's late father.
