Bihar BJP leaders marched 1.5 kilometres from the party headquarters to Dak Bungalow Chauraha on Monday, ending with the torch‑lit demolition of an effigy of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after he derided the late father of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sanjay Saraogi, the BJP’s Bihar unit president, said the protest was a response to Kharge’s remark, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega", made during a rally celebrating the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh.
Saraogi demanded that Kharge and the opposition INDIA bloc apologise, warning that their failure to do so would signal a "complete rout" for the Congress in upcoming elections. He framed the incident as a misuse of a historical celebration to launch a personal attack on the PM’s family.
RJD leader Bhai Virendra defended Kharge, calling the comment a "slip of the tongue" and accusing the BJP of creating unnecessary hype. He added that former leaders like Kharge had faced similar backlash before and that the Congress should be the first to apologise for its own remarks.
The effigy burn sparked a flurry of reactions across social media, with many calling for a formal statement from the Congress leadership. Party officials said they would review the incident and, if needed, call for a national apology.
The next move will come as the Congress prepares a response ahead of the state assembly session scheduled for the following week, where the party will likely address the controversy and outline its stance on the remarks made by Kharge.