JAMMU, Oct 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday staged a protest at Dogra Chowk here against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his reported remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late father.
The protest followed Kharge’s reported comment at an event in Patna on Sunday, where he allegedly said, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega,” triggering strong criticism from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress president of making a personal attack on the Prime Minister and his family.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condemned the remark, saying Kharge had “torn apart all norms of decorum.”
The protest in Jammu was led by BJP MLA and national vice-president of the party’s youth wing Shagun Parihar and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Jammu and Kashmir president Arun Prabhat. Hundreds of BJP workers and leaders participated in the demonstration and took out a rally through Dogra Chowk.
The protesters raised slogans against the Congress and burnt posters bearing images of Congress leaders, including Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. They also staged a brief sit-in on the road during the demonstration.
Speaking to reporters, Parihar strongly condemned Kharge’s reported remarks, saying they were not only an alleged attack on the Prime Minister’s late father but also disrespectful towards elderly people who had passed away.
“If they do not respect the Prime Minister’s father, how will they respect the father of an ordinary citizen?” she asked.
Parihar said Modi had dedicated himself to the nation and worked in the national interest, and described the reported remarks as highly objectionable. She also accused the Congress of undermining the dignity of constitutional and democratic institutions, including the judiciary, the Election Commission of India and the Office of the Prime Minister.
Prabhat said the Congress had “crossed all limits” with the alleged remarks and claimed the party would face public resentment over the issue.
According to reports, similar protests were also held in Samba, Kathua, Poonch, Udhampur, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar and Reasi districts.
