GUWAHATI | The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest at Sarusajai in Guwahati on Monday, demanding a public apology from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his reported remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father at a party event in Patna.

BJP leaders and workers raised slogans against Kharge and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, joining similar demonstrations reported from several parts of the country. BJP Mahila Morcha member Ratna Singh said the Congress president’s choice of words was unacceptable and alleged that the remarks reflected the Congress’s attitude towards the Prime Minister.

“Kharge is the Congress president, and his use of disrespectful language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father in Patna reflects the party’s true character,” Singh said. She also referred to earlier remarks by opposition leaders about Modi’s late mother.

Singh said BJP workers would not accept what she described as disrespectful comments about a democratically elected leader. She added that party members across the country had taken to the streets to register their protest. BJP Mahila Morcha state president Purabi Roy demanded Kharge’s resignation and a public apology.

“We demand the resignation of Kharge and a public apology for the remarks he made,” Roy said. BJP member Rupak Sharma said political differences should not lead to comments about the families of political leaders. He also alleged that Kharge had made disrespectful remarks about Assam in the past.

Sarma brings up Bhupen Hazarika controversy

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also criticised Kharge, drawing attention to an earlier controversy involving the Congress leader’s remarks about Assamese cultural icon Dr Bhupen Hazarika and the Centre’s decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on him.

Sarma also criticised Kharge’s son, Priyank Kharge, alleging that his earlier comments reflected disrespect towards Indian culture. The BJP’s protests followed Kharge’s address at a Congress programme in Patna on Sunday, held to mark the birth anniversary of Sri Krishna Singh, Bihar’s first chief minister.

According to reports, an audience member interrupted Kharge during the event, asserting that Modi would not leave power. Kharge responded, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Even Modi’s father will have to go). The Congress president reportedly repeated the remark, triggering criticism from the BJP.

The controversy has since become a point of political confrontation between the two parties, with the BJP demanding an apology and the Congress president’s resignation. Similar protests were reported from Bihar, Jammu, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Demonstrators in several locations carried BJP flags and burnt effigies of Kharge.

The Congress’s response to the demands for an apology was not included in the report.