Congress Backs Kharge Amid BJP Protests

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday defended party president Mallikarjun Kharge amid nationwide BJP protests over his remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing BJP leaders of having made similar statements against opposition leaders in the past.

Congress leaders circulated videos of remarks by Prime Minister Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah targeting Congress leaders.

Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge shared a video of Modi's controversial remark referring to a Congress “widow” receiving money. He also shared another clip in which Modi referred to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Congress leaders also circulated a video of Shah's remarks against Rahul Gandhi concerning the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said Kharge's remark, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, referred to the RSS, the Prime Minister's ideological mentor, and was not a personal insult.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said there was no need to make a “big song and dance” about the remark, describing it as a common expression rather than an insult to anyone's father.

Meanwhile, Kharge renewed his attack on Modi, accusing him of using every possible means to protect Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar despite what he described as repeated revelations of “vote theft”.

In a post on X, Kharge claimed the Election Commission had refused to disclose information sought under the RTI Act about software used in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, citing “trade secrets”.

He reiterated his demand for Kumar's resignation.

The controversy erupted after Kharge responded to an audience member who said Modi would not leave office by remarking, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”.

The exchange took place at an event in Patna marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar's first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh.

The BJP condemned the remark as insulting and launched protests against the Congress president.