‘Modi ka baap bhi jayega’: Kharge’s remark in Bihar sparks row; BJP says Congress seems more like ‘mafia’

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday (October 25, 2026) sparked a controversy with his remarks "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" [Modi’s father will also go], in response to an audience member's comment that "the PM would not go anywhere", during an event in Bihar to mark the birth anniversary of the State’s first Chief Minister Shrikrishna Singh.

The incident took place while Mr. Kharge was speaking at the programme in Patna to celebrate the 139th birth anniversary of Singh, who was also an eminent freedom fighter.

Responding to Mr. Kharge’s statement that the Congress will send those involved in carrying out alleged irregularities in the SIR process to jail, a person from the audience shouted, “As long as there is no rebellion, Modi won’t go anywhere.”

The Congress President shot back, saying, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Let alone Modi, even his father would go).

Torn apart all norms of decorum: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah said that Mr. Kharge has today “torn apart all norms of decorum by making an indecent remark about Modi ji’s father in Patna”. “This is not the first time that the Congress party has used abusive language against Modi ji or his family. At times, they have hurled insults at his revered mother, at times called him ‘merchant of death,’ and at times mocked his poverty by calling him ‘chaiwala.’

“Under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, the Congress party keeps crossing the limits of indecency every day. In the past 12 years, the repeated electoral defeats have bred such desperation and frustration in the Congress party that it no longer has any policy left, nor any issue -- only the politics of slander remains,” he alleged.

Mr. Shah said Congress is now steadily losing its base even among its own workers. “Whenever they have made hateful comments against Modi ji or his family, the public has given Congress a resounding response every time,” the former BJP chief said in a Hindi post on X.

Kharge’s remark reflects the Congress’ ‘ideological bankruptcy’: Nabin

Reacting sharply, BJP chief Nitin Nabin said the people of the country are watching this “indecent politics very closely and will give it a befitting reply in due time”. “The kind of indecent and unparliamentary language used today in Patna by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge towards the country’s honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji reflects the Congress party’s ideological bankruptcy,” he said on X.

Mr. Nabin said political opposition too should have some dignity. “But dragging the departed family members into speeches from public platforms has now become the real ‘culture’ of Rahul Gandhi and the entire opposition” he said.

“The language that was once associated with thugs and hooligans is now being used by the Congress President himself... Their entire style of functioning has turned into that of a mafia. This isn’t a political party anymore — it seems more like a mafia gang,” the BJP said on its X handle.

Mr/ Nabin also said that when the opposition has no solid issues left to debate on the country’s development, policies and public welfare schemes, they resort to “this kind of desperation and personal attacks.”

NDA leaders in Bhar condemn Kharge’s remark

NDA leaders in Bihar condemned Mr. Kharge's remarks, describing those as “unfortunate” and “reflective of the Congress's frustration and lack of political decorum”. “Using such language against the prime minister amounts to disrespecting the mandate of the people. Kharge is following a script written by Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and their family. Insulting Modi and his family has long been a Congress habit,” Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi said in a statement.

Mr. Saraogi said that despite political differences, all leaders must maintain dignity in their language and respect democratic values in public life. He asserted that “abusive language” will neither diminish PM Modi's stature nor reduce public support for him, while the Congress would face the people's wrath for lowering the standard of political discourse.

“The Congress should introspect instead of blaming others for its electoral setbacks. Voters prioritise development, good governance and accountable leadership over personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations,” Mr. Saraogi said.

Senior JD(U) leader Rajeev Ranjan also condemned Mr. Kharge’s remarks. “The Congress would do well to introspect as to why they have been reduced to six seats (in Bihar),” he said.