Rajnath Singh slams Kharge over remark on PM Modi's father, cites 'ideological collapse'
Synopsis
A single phrase — 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' — spoken by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at a Patna event has ignited a national political storm. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's swift, pointed condemnation frames the remark not just as a personal slight but as evidence of Congress's 'ideological collapse' — a framing the BJP will almost certainly press into electoral service.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 26 October 2026 condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over a remark about PM Modi's late father.
Kharge's comment — 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' — was made at a Congress event in Patna on Sunday .
Singh called the episode an attack on the dignity of Indian politics and accused Congress of 'ideological bankruptcy.' Singh criticised Congress for defending rather than retracting the remark, saying it 'doesn't suit' a leader of Kharge's seniority.
The BJP is expected to amplify the controversy as part of its broader political narrative against the Congress.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, 26 October 2026, sharply condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over a remark directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late father, calling the comment a breach of personal decorum and an affront to the dignity of Indian democracy. Singh said the remark, made at a Congress event in Patna on Sunday, had left him 'stunned and deeply hurt.'
What Kharge Said — and the Fallout
The controversy erupted during Kharge's address at a party event in Patna on Sunday. When a person in the audience reportedly interrupted him, saying that Modi would not leave power, Kharge responded: 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' (Even Modi's father will have to go). He reportedly repeated the remark, triggering a political storm. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders swiftly accused the Congress chief of crossing the lines of acceptable political discourse.
Rajnath Singh's Condemnation
'The remark made yesterday in Patna by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge against Prime Minister Modi's late father has left me stunned and deeply hurt,' Singh said in a statement. He underscored the gravity of the remark by noting its source: 'What is most shocking in this entire episode is that this statement did not come from an ordinary Congress worker or a young leader, but from the National President of the party that calls itself the country's oldest political party.'
Singh also took aim at the Congress party's response, accusing it of attempting to justify rather than retract the remark. 'Instead of accepting their mistake and expressing regret, Congress is busy attempting to defend and validate this statement. Kharge is at a very senior post; it doesn't suit him,' he said.
Congress Accused of 'Ideological Bankruptcy'
Singh escalated his criticism, framing the episode as symptomatic of a deeper malaise within the grand old party. 'Turning ideological opposition into personal insults, dragging political disagreement down to crude language, and targeting the Prime Minister's family reflects Congress' frustration and ideological bankruptcy,' he said. He further alleged that 'Congress has suffered not just a political downfall, but a complete ideological collapse.'
The Defence Minister drew a clear line on the boundaries of democratic opposition: 'In a democracy, oppose as much as you like, question policies, and criticise the government, but at least do not cross the boundaries of personal decorum — this is the advice I would like to give.'
Impact and What Comes Next
Singh asserted that the remark had 'hurt the sentiments of millions of countrymen,' and that the Congress party's defence of the statement had compounded the damage to public sentiment. He added a pointed reassurance to BJP supporters: 'Prime Minister Modi can neither be shaken by such remarks, nor can his resolve for public service be weakened in any way.' The controversy is likely to intensify ahead of upcoming political contests, with the BJP expected to keep the remark in sharp focus as evidence of what it describes as Congress's culture of personal attacks.
Point of View
High-decibel response to Kharge's Patna remark is as much a political calculation as it is genuine outrage — the party has a well-established playbook of weaponising perceived personal attacks on Modi to consolidate emotional voter support. What is notable here is that Kharge's remark was made in an unscripted exchange, not a prepared speech, which makes the Congress party's subsequent defence harder to justify strategically. For an opposition already struggling to land an alternative economic or governance narrative, gifting the ruling party a 'dignity of politics' moment is a costly unforced error. Rajnath Singh's measured but firm tone — invoking democracy rather than pure outrage — signals that the BJP intends to hold this issue for the longer political run, not just the next news cycle.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say that sparked the controversy?
At a Congress event in Patna on Sunday, Kharge said 'Modi ka baap bhi jayega' (Even Modi's father will have to go) in response to an audience member who said Modi would not leave power. He reportedly repeated the remark, prompting immediate criticism from BJP leaders who accused him of targeting the Prime Minister's family.
Why did Rajnath Singh react so strongly to Kharge's remark?
Singh said the comment had left him 'stunned and deeply hurt,' particularly because it came from the national president of a party that describes itself as India's oldest political organisation. He argued that political opposition should never descend into personal attacks on leaders' families, calling it an attack on the dignity of Indian democracy.
How did the Congress party respond to the backlash?
According to Singh, the Congress party chose to defend Kharge's remark rather than apologise for it. Singh criticised this position, saying that instead of accepting a mistake, Congress was 'busy attempting to defend and validate this statement,' which he argued further hurt public sentiment.
What broader charge did Rajnath Singh level against the Congress?
Singh alleged that the episode was symptomatic of 'ideological bankruptcy' and a 'complete ideological collapse' within the Congress, framing the remark as evidence of the party's frustration rather than principled opposition. He also warned Congress that 'the public keeps track of everything' in a democracy.
What is the political significance of this controversy?
The episode gives the BJP a fresh opportunity to portray Congress as resorting to personal attacks when unable to mount a policy-based challenge. With several states heading toward electoral cycles, the BJP is expected to keep the remark prominent in its political messaging as it targets Congress's credibility among voters.
