BJP Plans Nationwide Protests After Kharge’s Patna Remark

The Bharatiya Janata Party announced demonstrations at state party headquarters across India on October 26, following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark at an event in Patna about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s father. The planned protests respond to an exchange whose intended meaning is disputed by the parties. A video of the October 25 event shows an audience member interrupting Kharge as he spoke about alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Kharge replied, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega,” a Hindi phrase invoking the prime minister’s father. The event marked the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shri Krishna Singh. The BJP described Kharge’s words as an insult to Modi’s late father and said the nationwide demonstrations would oppose what it called insulting and offensive remarks. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders condemned the comment and demanded an apology. The BJP also announced a protest march and effigy burning in Patna; the Delhi BJP said its demonstration was planned for around noon on October 26. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said Kharge was referring to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak...