BJP Workers Demand Apology, Burn Effigies Of Kharge In Delhi, Patna, Jammu And Other State Capitals

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday staged protests in several parts of the country against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his alleged disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father at an event in Patna on Sunday, demanding an apology from him and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

The protests followed Kharge’s remarks at a function marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh, popularly known as Shri Babu, at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on Sunday. Speaking about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kharge said the Congress would send those involved to jail.

 When an audience member interrupted him, shouting, “Modi nahin jayega (Modi will not go anywhere),” Kharge retorted, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega, baap bhi jayega” (Even Modi’s father will have to go).

 BJP’s Nationwide Protest:

Calling the remark “insulting, indecent, and offensive,” the BJP announced nationwide demonstrations across all state headquarters on Monday.

In Delhi, BJP leaders and workers staged a protest near Kharge’s residence on Rajaji Marg. Police stopped them when they attempted to march from Sena Bhawan Circle towards his residence. The protesters raised slogans against the Congress president and demanded an apology.

In Patna, BJP leaders and supporters took out a ‘Jan Akrosh March’ from the party headquarters to Income Tax Golambar, led by Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi, and burnt an effigy of Kharge.

 “Yesterday, all limits were crossed when the platform to celebrate the birth anniversary of Shrikrishna Singh, the architect of modern Bihar, was used to make abusive remarks about the Prime Minister’s late father,” Saraogi said. Similar protests were held in Jammu by BJYM workers, in Lucknow, and in other state capitals.

 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Kharge had “torn apart all norms of decorum” and accused Congress of repeatedly targeting Modi’s family. The BJP statement said: “The kind of language once associated with thugs and hooligans is now being used by the Congress president. This is not a political party, it appears more like a mafia gang.”

 Union Minister Giriraj Singh demanded Kharge’s resignation and said, “We will keep resisting until Kharge-ji resigns, until he offers an apology, and until Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi finally break their silence.”

Congress Defence:

 Congress media head Pawan Khera defended Kharge, alleging the interrupter, identified as Santosh Kumar from Chhapra, was a BJP worker who had first shouted, “Even if your father comes, Modi won't go,” dragging Kharge’s late father into the debate. Kumar later claimed he is a dedicated Congress worker and his remark was taken out of context.

 Congress said Kharge was referring to Modi’s “ideological father,” the RSS, not his biological father.