Bengaluru, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday defended Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his controversial remark involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the BJP of selectively targeting Congress leaders while overlooking statements made by its own leaders in the past.
Priyank Kharge said his father’s comment had come in response to a provocation from a BJP supporter and urged critics to consider the context before condemning his language.
According to the minister, the supporter had challenged Mallikarjun Kharge by saying that neither he nor his father could do anything to Modi. The Congress president responded with the remark, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega,” which triggered a political controversy.
Priyank argued that the BJP was creating an issue out of the exchange while ignoring what he described as derogatory remarks previously directed at Congress leaders.
He cited alleged remarks concerning former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, along with descriptions of Sonia Gandhi as a “Jersey cow” and Rahul Gandhi as a “hybrid calf” and “Pappu”.
“Conveniently, these so-called cultured people forget what their own leaders have said. We need not learn culture from them,” he said, adding that criticism, trolling and the registration of FIRs would not alter the Congress party’s position.
The minister also questioned the BJP’s nationwide protests over his father’s statement, alleging that the demonstrations were intended to divert attention from other issues. He specifically questioned the whereabouts of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP staged a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park against Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks. The demonstration was led by Assembly Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka and Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.
BJP MPs, MLAs and MLCs participated, condemning the Congress president’s language and demanding accountability.
The controversy has further escalated the political confrontation between the two parties, with both sides accusing each other of undermining standards of political discourse.
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