A fresh political war of words has erupted between the Congress and the BJP over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” remark, with the BJP demanding an apology. Congress, however, has maintained that the statement does not amount to an insult.
The incident unfolded in Patna, Bihar, on Sunday, during a function marking the 130th birth anniversary of Dr Shri Krishna Singh, the state’s first Chief Minister.
During his address, a man in the audience reportedly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not go anywhere. Responding to the remark, Kharge said, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega.”
He also launched an attack on the prime minister, accusing him of having a habit of telling lies.
However, this is not the first time a Congress leader has made controversial remarks against PM Modi. Over the years, several such statements have triggered political rows, with the BJP turning them into campaign issues during elections.
Here are some of the most controversial remarks made by Congress leaders against PM Modi.
- The 'Baap Remark'
The latest controversy unfolded in Patna on October 25, when Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge responded to a man in the audience who reportedly claimed that PM Modi would not go anywhere.
Kharge replied, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega" ("Even Modi's father will go"). However, Santosh Kumar, the man in the orange shirt who made the remark, claimed that his statement had not been heard in full and that he had meant the opposite. “I was actually saying, 'Unless the public revolts, Modi will not go," said the not-a-heckler Santosh Kumar, after he received a beating and was thrown out of the venue.
The remark triggered a political row, with the BJP demanding an apology and accusing the Congress president of crossing the line of political discourse. Congress, however, has defended Kharge's statement, arguing that it was not intended as an insult.
- The 'Chaiwala' Remark
During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar sparked a controversy with his remarks about Narendra Modi's background as a tea seller.
At an All India Congress Committee (AICC) session in New Delhi in January 2014, Aiyar said that Modi could not become prime minister in the 21st century but could sell tea at the party conclave.
"There is no way that Modi can become prime minister, but the Congress can make arrangements for him to sell tea at the party conclave."
He further said, "Those who sell tea are much better than those who sell the country itself."
The BJP seized on the remark, portraying it as an insult by an elitist Congress party against a man who had risen from humble beginnings. The party turned Modi's background into a key campaign theme, launching the 'Chai Pe Charcha' outreach initiative.
The controversy also helped the BJP strengthen its narrative of a political establishment that mocked an ordinary man. Modi led the BJP to a historic victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and became prime minister.
- The 'Neech Aadmi' Remark
During the Gujarat Assembly election campaign in December 2017, Mani Shankar Aiyar sparked another controversy by referring to PM Modi as a "neech kisam ka aadmi" (a low-life or vile kind of person).
"This person is a 'neech aadmi' (low-minded). He is not civilised, and in a situation like this, there is no need to practise such dirty politics," Aiyar said.
PM Modi turned the remark into a campaign issue during rallies in Gujarat, arguing that the Congress had insulted not only him but also his humble origins and the people of Gujarat.
He responded by saying, "They can call me neech (low), but I will keep doing oonche (high) work."
The remark triggered widespread criticism, prompting then-Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to ask Aiyar to apologise. The Congress suspended Aiyar from the party's primary membership and issued him a show-cause notice.
- The 'Chowkidar Chor Hai' Remark
'Chowkidar Chor Hai' (The watchman is a thief) was a slogan used by the Indian National Congress during its campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Rahul Gandhi repeatedly used the slogan to target PM Modi over the Rafale fighter jet deal, alleging favouritism and irregularities in the deal, including price escalation.
The slogan was a direct response to Modi's 'chowkidar' (watchman) image. During the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, Modi had promised to protect public money and prevent corruption, presenting himself as a watchman serving the country.
Rahul Gandhi used the 'chowkidar' reference during the 2017 Gujarat Assembly election campaign before making it a central theme of his attack on Modi in 2019.
The BJP countered the slogan with its 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' (I am also the watchman) campaign, encouraging supporters to adopt the phrase as a symbol of their support for Modi. Modi even changed his official Twitter handle from 'Narendra Modi' to 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi'.
The counter-campaign helped the BJP hit out at the opposition, and the saffron party returned to power with a larger majority in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
- The 'Maut Ka Saudagar' Remark
In 2007, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi sparked a major controversy by referring to Narendra Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister, as a "maut ka saudagar" (merchant of death) during an election rally on December 1.
The remark came amid the political fallout from the 2002 Gujarat riots and the subsequent controversy over the state government's handling of the violence. Gandhi used the phrase to target Modi's administration and accuse it of responsibility for the state's turbulent past.
Rather than weakening Modi politically, however, the remark became a major campaign issue for the BJP. Modi portrayed it as an insult to both himself and the people of Gujarat by the Congress leadership.
The BJP used the controversy during the Gujarat Assembly election campaign and went on to win the 2007 state elections.
Will the Latest Remark Benefit the BJP?
From the 'chaiwala' jibe to the 'neech aadmi' and 'maut ka saudagar' remarks, controversies involving Congress leaders have repeatedly become part of the BJP's political messaging against the opposition.
The latest 'baap' episode has once again triggered a war of words between the two parties. The BJP has called for a nationwide protest. A BJP worker in Bihar has filed a police complaint against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his controversial remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Moreover, BJP workers in Patna on Monday held a protest march against Kharge's alleged objectionable remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's family.
Lastly, only time will tell whether the 'baap' remark will turn into political gains for the BJP in the upcoming elections.