Mallikarjun Kharge sparks outrage with personal attack on PM Modi in Patna

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has drawn sharp condemnation across the political spectrum after making abusive personal remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late father during an address in Patna on Sunday.

The incident took place during the 139th birth anniversary celebrations of Bihar's first chief minister, Dr Shri Krishna Singh. Interrupting Kharge's speech, an audience member shouted that Prime Minister Modi was not going anywhere, prompting the Congress chief to lose his cool and retort that even Modi's father would go.

Union ministers hit back at Congress leadership

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spearheaded the response against the Congress leadership, stating that Kharge had torn apart all norms of decorum by making an indecent remark about the Prime Minister's family. Shah pointed out that this was part of a persistent pattern where Congress leaders have repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Modi with personal abuse, including past insults aimed at his late mother and mockery of his humble background as a tea seller.

Shah asserted that 12 continuous years of electoral rejections have left the Congress frustrated and devoid of constructive policy, leaving it with nothing beyond the politics of abuse while voters consistently reaffirm their faith in Narendra Modi's governance.

Rising public support for Modi's governance

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan noted that the office of Congress president carries a responsibility to uphold democratic standards, adding that growing public affection for Prime Minister Modi continues to deepen the opposition's frustration. Pradhan stressed that insulting the democratic mandate given to the Prime Minister would not earn the Congress any support from the electorate.

In Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary called the statement a serious offence and demanded a direct apology from both Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

During his address in Patna, Kharge also directed attacks against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and criticized Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for joining the Janata Dal (United) with the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Congress leader Husain Dalwai later defended Kharge's broader political critique in Mumbai, but BJP leaders maintained that personal insults targeting the Prime Minister's family only highlight the opposition's ideological void.