Defence Minister Rajnath Singh calls Kharge's anti‑Modi comment ‘extremely unfortunate’

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “extremely unfortunate” on Monday, October 26, 2026. Kharge had said “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” during a programme in Patna on Sunday, October 25, after an audience member remarked that the prime minister would not go anywhere. The remark was made while Kharge was addressing the celebration of the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister, Shrikrishna Singh. Singh told reporters the comment hurt the sentiments of crores of people across the country. He said Kharge, as the national president of the Congress, should show seriousness, restraint, dignity and responsible conduct in public life. Singh added that using such language is contrary to the dignity of the post and raises questions about the Congress’s political culture. He argued that the incident shows the party is facing both a political and an ideological decline. Singh warned that in a democracy the public holds parties accountable and will respond when the time comes.

Context

In Indian politics, party leaders are expected to maintain decorum when speaking in public forums. Remarks that insult a sitting prime minister often lead to sharp criticism from rival parties and can affect a party’s image among voters.