Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 26 October sharply criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the opposition had abandoned all norms of civil discourse driven by frustration over repeated electoral defeats. Gupta's remarks, made to reporters in New Delhi, escalated the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) pushback against the Congress-led opposition bloc.

Gupta's Attack on the Opposition

The Delhi Chief Minister argued that the opposition parties had been unable to reconcile with public rejection at the ballot box, and were channelling that frustration into personal attacks on the Prime Minister. 'I feel that Congress, its leaders and all their alliance partners have become so frustrated that they have crossed all limits of what is considered civilised behaviour or decency. They are so frustrated by their defeats and the fact that the public has rejected them that it is reflected in their faces and language,' Gupta said.

She further alleged that the attacks had escalated beyond political criticism to targeting the Prime Minister's deceased parents — a charge she described as deeply objectionable. 'They are not sparing anything. They hurl abuses, speak ill and even target the deceased parents of the Prime Minister,' she added, contending that such conduct would not diminish Modi's standing with voters. 'The public loves the Prime Minister. Time and again, people across so many states have voted to elect him, and his developmental work resides in their hearts. How will you remove that? You will gain nothing by hurling abuses like this,' Gupta said.

Context and Political Background

The remarks come amid a broader pattern of verbal skirmishes between the BJP and the Congress-led INDIA bloc, which has intensified ahead of several state assembly cycles. Kharge, as Congress president, has been one of the most vocal critics of the Modi government's record, and BJP leaders have repeatedly countered his statements as politically motivated. This is not the first time a senior BJP leader has accused the opposition of overstepping in its language — similar charges have been levelled after multiple high-profile speeches and social media posts in recent months.

Notably, Gupta's positioning on this issue also serves a domestic Delhi political purpose, as the BJP seeks to consolidate its narrative ahead of municipal and future assembly contests in the capital.

Yamuna River Safari Initiative

In a separate development at the same press interaction, CM Gupta spoke about the proposed 'Namo Yamuna — River Safari', Delhi's first Yamuna River cruise service, expressing confidence that the project would be inaugurated before Chhath Puja. She described it as a unique recreational experience that would allow Delhi residents and visitors to engage with the river's heritage and natural surroundings.

'Just as we travel to other cities and experience peace while boating on the Ganga, the Yamuna or other rivers, people here will similarly find peace while taking the Yamuna Safari and will be able to seek the blessings of Mother Yamuna,' Gupta said. According to the Delhi government, trial runs for the eco-friendly initiative have already commenced.

What the Yamuna Safari Project Entails

The project is designed as a recreational corridor along a designated stretch of the Yamuna, with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation. The Delhi government has stated that the initiative aims to provide a new vantage point from which to experience Delhi's skyline and heritage, while simultaneously developing the riverfront as a family picnic destination. Environmental protection and river cleanliness have been cited as guiding principles for the project's development.

Whether the project meets its pre-Chhath inauguration target will be closely watched, given the river's longstanding pollution challenges and the symbolic weight the festival carries for Delhi's riverine traditions.