BJP, Congress workers clash in Bihar over derogatory remarks against PM Modi

BJP and Congress workers clashed in India's Patna today (29 August) during a protest staged by the ruling party against the use of abusive language targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in poll-bound Bihar.

A video circulating online shows a large number of party workers from both sides attacking each other with flags, reports NDTV.

BJP leader Nitin Nabin warned of retaliation, saying, "Every son of Bihar will give a befitting reply to Congress for insulting a mother. We will take revenge for this."

In response, Congress worker Ashutosh claimed the government was complicit in the incident. "A befitting reply will be given. This is happening with the government's involvement. Nitish Kumar is doing wrong," he told ANI.

The row erupted after a purported video surfaced showing a man draped in a Congress flag hurling a Hindi expletive at PM Modi from a rally stage.

Following this, the BJP filed a case and demanded an apology from the Congress. Another case was lodged against Rahul Gandhi in Patna over the incident.

Police later confirmed the arrest of the accused. Darbhanga Police posted on X: "In the said case, while registering an FIR under Simri police station, 01 accused has been arrested and is being sent to the court."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing a rally in Assam, lashed out at the Congress, saying the party "always abused PM Modi." He added, "Congress is behind the culture of hatred...they want to save infiltrators. Rahul Gandhi should speak up and apologise for this."

Yesterday, Shah described the incident as a "stain" on Indian democracy. "Under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, Congress politics has reached its lowest level. They cannot tolerate how a poor mother's son has been sitting in the Prime Minister's chair for the past 11 years and is continuously taking the country forward under his leadership," he wrote on X.

He further alleged that the party had returned to its old ways: "This clearly shows that the Congress party has returned to its old ways and character, through which it has always poisoned the country's political culture."

BJP President JP Nadda also slammed the Opposition, saying the remarks against PM Modi and his mother had "crossed all limits of indecency," and demanded apologies from Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who was present at the rally.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the remarks, stating, "The use of indecent language against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother from the Congress and RJD platforms during the Voter Rights Yatra in Darbhanga is extremely inappropriate, and I condemn it."

However, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera denied the allegations, accusing the BJP of trying to deflect attention. He said the ruling party was raising "irrelevant" issues to distract from more pressing concerns.