Widespread feelings of anger appear to have gripped people across the state of Jharkhand over an objectionable exchange of words at a public event in Patna. It has escalated into a wider political confrontation, with the BJP demanding an apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over remarks referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father. 

Protests across several cities in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, including Ranchi, have brought political decorum and the boundaries of public discourse into focus.

A Remark That Sparked a Row

The controversy arose on October 25, 2026, during an event marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first Chief Minister, Shrikrishna Singh. While discussing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Kharge said those responsible would be sent to jail. After an audience member interjected that Modi would not go anywhere, Kharge responded with a remark referring to the Prime Minister’s father.

The BJP condemned the comment as offensive and demanded an apology from Kharge and senior Congress leaders. The Congress, however, maintained that the exchange followed an insult directed at Kharge’s late father and argued that his reference was to the RSS as Modi’s ideological predecessor.

Protests Reach Ranchi

On October 26, BJP workers in Ranchi, led by state party president Aditya Sahu and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, attempted to gherao the Congress office. Congress workers gathered in response, prompting police to deploy barricades and separate the groups. The confrontation caused traffic disruption in central Ranchi for nearly two hours, though no untoward incident was reported.

The BJP also staged protests in Patna, Delhi, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Jammu. In Patna, demonstrators held a march and burnt an effigy of Kharge. BJP leaders described the remarks as an affront to political dignity, while Congress representatives accused the ruling party of using protests to deflect attention from substantive issues.

The Message: Disagreement Must Retain Its Dignity

Democracy depends on robust debate, scrutiny and the freedom to challenge those in power. But political disagreement is most effective when it addresses policies and public decisions rather than personal or family references. Leaders across parties carry a responsibility to uphold standards of public discourse, ensuring that political competition strengthens democratic accountability instead of deepening hostility.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-protests-kharges-remark-on-pms-father-in-bihar-and-jharkhand/article71627257.ece