The controversy erupted during a programme marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Dr Shri Krishna Singh. Kharge was addressing the gathering when a man in the audience was heard saying that Modi would not go anywhere.
Kharge responded from the stage, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega,” repeating the remark, according to video footage and media reports.
However, the man, identified by NDTV as Santosh Kumar, later disputed the interpretation of his intervention. He said he had actually been saying that Modi would not leave office unless there was a revolt, and that only part of his sentence had been heard.
“I was saying that unless there is a revolt, Modi will not go,” Kumar was quoted as saying by NDTV after being removed from the venue.
The explanation added a new dimension to the controversy, although it did not diminish the political fallout from Kharge’s response.
Man reportedly assaulted during confrontation
The exchange was followed by a commotion, with attendees reportedly surrounding Kumar, knocking him to the ground and assaulting him before he was removed from the venue, according to media reports.
The circumstances of the confrontation and the sequence of events surrounding the alleged assault require further independent verification.
The incident has also raised questions about the conduct of political gatherings, where heckling, heated exchanges and confrontations can overshadow the issues being discussed.
BJP launches attack on Kharge
The BJP swiftly condemned Kharge’s remark, accusing the Congress president of crossing the boundaries of political discourse and insulting the Prime Minister and his late father.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Kharge in a post on X, alleging that the Congress had repeatedly used objectionable language against Modi and his family. BJP leaders also argued that the opposition was resorting to personal attacks instead of focusing on governance, development and public welfare.
BJP leaders announced a nationwide series of protests over the remark, according to reports.
BJP spokespersons described Kharge’s words as inappropriate and accused the Congress of lowering the standards of political debate.
Congress defends the remark
The Congress defended its president, with party spokesperson Surendra Rajput saying Kharge had used an idiom and arguing that Modi himself had made harsher remarks in the past.
The defence, however, has not prevented the exchange from becoming a fresh flashpoint between the two principal national political rivals.
Kharge targets BJP over ‘vote chori’
The confrontation took place during a broader political attack by Kharge on the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Election Commission of India.
During his address, Kharge accused the BJP of electoral manipulation and alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls was being used to remove opposition supporters from voter lists. These allegations are contested and have not been established as fact.
He called for opposition unity to defend voting rights and the Constitution, describing the struggle as a “second freedom struggle”.
Kharge also criticised the BJP and RSS over their political ideology and made allegations concerning the Ram temple issue in Ayodhya.
With both parties trading accusations, the Patna incident has added another flashpoint to the increasingly acrimonious political contest between the Congress and the BJP.