BJP protests Kharge’s Patna remarks, demands apology

The Bharatiya Janata Party held protests on Monday over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks at a Patna event and demanded an apology from him and Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The controversy followed Kharge’s speech on Sunday at a function marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh. According to accounts of the event, Kharge was discussing alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls when an audience member interrupted, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not go anywhere. Kharge replied, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega,” a phrase referring to Modi’s father. The BJP said Kharge had insulted the prime minister’s late father. In Patna, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi led a march by party leaders and supporters, who raised slogans and burned an effigy of Kharge. The party also announced protests at state headquarters across the country. Demonstrations were reported in Delhi, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Jammu. Police stopped protesters near Kharge’s Delhi residence, and police detained demonstrators in Bengaluru. BJP leaders called for an apology. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said...