A heckler's remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi prompted a sharp response from Mallikarjun Kharge in Patna. The exchange preceded attacks on black money, the RSS, Nitish Kumar and untouchability.
Kharge takes swipe at PM Modi over black money, attacks RSS at Patna event
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge lost his cool during an address at an event in Bihar’s Patna on Sunday after a person in the audience remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not go anywhere. Responding to the remark, Kharge said, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega.”
The exchange took place during the 139th birth anniversary celebration of Dr Shri Krishna Singh. Kharge subsequently launched an attack on Modi over his promise to bring back black money and criticised the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying there would be no peace in the country as long as it persisted.
His remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah accusing the Congress chief of crossing all limits of propriety by making an “indecent remark” about the Prime Minister’s late father.
Kharge also accused Modi of repeatedly lying and questioned his promise to bring back black money within the first 100 days of his government.
“PM Modi has a habit of telling lies. He had said that he would bring back black money in his first 100 days. I want to ask, where is that money?” Kharge asked.
The Congress chief also targeted the RSS, accusing the organisation of engaging in communal activities since its inception and arguing that its ideology stood in the way of peace.
#WATCH | A ruckus broke out during Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's address at the 139th birth anniversary celebration of Dr. Shri Krishna Singh in Patna, Bihar A person present at the event said that PM Modi would not go anywhere, Kharge responded, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega."— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2026
KHARGE ATTACKS RSS OVER IDEOLOGY
During his address, Kharge argued that the RSS’s ideology was responsible for communal tensions and said peace would remain elusive as long as it continued to influence the country.
“If we speak about the RSS today, people might interpret it differently... well, the reason you are being targeted is that you have been engaged in this very same activity ever since your inception - that is why you are being targeted,” he said.
“Therefore, as long as the ideology of the RSS persists in this country, there will be no peace,” Kharge added.
He also accused the RSS and the BJP of harbouring views that ran counter to the Constitution, particularly on the issue of untouchability.
“Even today, the RSS-BJP is rife with people who harbour notions of untouchability and hold views that run counter to the Constitution,” he said.
KHARGE QUESTIONS NITISH KUMAR’S ALLIANCE WITH BJP
Kharge also criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for joining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), arguing that the move marked a departure from the socialist ideology with which the Janata Dal (United) leader had entered politics.
“It saddens me that Nitish Kumar, who entered the political scene carrying the ideology of the Socialist Party, has ended up in the lap of the BJP and the RSS,” Kharge said.
“This is what happens when a person becomes weak and abandons their ideology,” he added.
His remarks came amid his broader criticism of the BJP and RSS, which he accused of undermining constitutional values and social equality.
HALDWANI PURIFICATION ROW DRAWS KHARGE’S FIRE
Kharge also cited a purification ritual conducted in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani following a Congress rally, describing it as an example of untouchability persisting decades after Independence.
The ritual, known as shuddhikaran, was reportedly performed by members of a right-wing group on August 8, 2026, at a stage near a temple after a Congress rally at Ramlila Ground. The incident drew criticism from Congress leaders, who alleged that the ritual amounted to untouchability.
“On August 8, 2026, in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, a purification ritual was performed for the stage located near a temple. Eighty years after Independence, how will there be unity if untouchability prevails?” Kharge asked.
He linked the incident to his criticism of the RSS and BJP, arguing that practices rooted in untouchability were incompatible with constitutional principles and social unity.
AMIT SHAH SLAMS KHARGE
Kharge’s remarks prompted a strong response from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress of abandoning political decorum and resorting to personal attacks against Modi and his family.
In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Congress president had crossed all limits of propriety with his remark about the Prime Minister’s late father.
“Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today crossed all limits of propriety in Patna by making an indecent remark about Modi ji’s father,” Shah said.
He alleged that the Congress had repeatedly used objectionable language against Modi and his family, referring to past remarks about the Prime Minister’s late mother, the description of Modi as a “merchant of death” and the use of “chaiwala” to mock his humble background.
Shah also accused the Congress of growing frustrated after repeated electoral defeats over the past 12 years.
“Due to the continuous electoral defeats over the past 12 years, the Congress party has become so frustrated and disappointed that it has neither any policy nor any issue left, only the politics of abuse,” he said.
He further claimed that the party was losing support among the public as well as its own workers, and said voters had repeatedly responded to such remarks against Modi and his family by delivering electoral defeats to the Congress.
NITIN NABIN, DHARMENDRA PRADHAN ALSO TARGET KHARGE
BJP leader Nitin Nabin also condemned Kharge’s remarks, describing them as “indecent and unparliamentary” and accusing the Congress of lacking political decorum.
In a post on X, Nabin said political opposition should have its limits, alleging that Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders had dragged deceased family members into political speeches.
“This is not just Kharge ji’s personal statement, but a manifestation of the entire Congress party’s lack of civility,” Nabin wrote.
He alleged that the opposition was resorting to personal attacks because it lacked substantive issues relating to development, policy and public welfare. He added that voters were watching such conduct and would respond at the appropriate time.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also criticised Kharge, accusing the Congress of expressing its hostility towards Modi through personal insults.
Pradhan said the remark about the Prime Minister’s late father reflected the Congress’s declining credibility and growing frustration. He argued that the office of Congress president carried a responsibility to uphold democratic values and public decency.
Referring to earlier controversial remarks about Modi’s late mother, Pradhan questioned whether the Congress had run out of arguments with which to challenge the Prime Minister.
“Kharge ji, the public’s affection for the Prime Minister is increasing the Congress’s frustration. But remember, the people’s trust is greater than the Congress’s resentment,” Pradhan wrote.
He added that insulting the democratic mandate would not help the Congress win public support.
CONGRESS LEADER HUSAIN DALWAI DEFENDS KHARGE
Congress leader Husain Dalwai, however, defended the substance of Kharge’s criticism, saying it reflected concerns about the government’s record over the past 12 to 13 years.
Speaking in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Dalwai accused the government of making several mistakes and subjecting people to hardship.
“These are all things that are on our president’s mind. A full account will be taken of this,” Dalwai said.
He said the Congress would hold the government accountable for its decisions if it came to power in 2029, including alleged irregularities and mistakes in foreign policy.
“In 2029, when our government comes, we will take account of all the mistakes this government has made, the irregularities that have taken place and the mistakes in our foreign policy, which will cause us considerable trouble,” he said.
Dalwai backed Kharge’s criticism, adding, “What he is saying is right, and I say the same.”
The exchange has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, with BJP leaders condemning Kharge’s remark about Modi’s late father, while a Congress leader defended the broader criticism of the government.
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