Bengaluru police detained several BJP leaders and party workers on Monday, October 26, 2026 in protest against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of them were arrested including Karnataka Legislative Assembly Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka and senior BJP leader CN Ashwath Narayan.
The protest followed a nationwide call by the BJP to demonstrate against Kharge’s comments, which they said were inappropriate and disrespectful. The detentions added to the mounting political conflict between the BJP and Congress.
What did Mallikarjun Kharge say?
The controversy started on Sunday, October 25, when the former Bihar Chief Minister Shrikrishna Singh’s birth anniversary was celebrated at a Patna, Bihar, rally.
According to Kharge, when he mentioned that the electoral rolls were allegedly being rigged by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), he said those who were responsible would face legal consequences and could even go to jail. When someone from the audience asked him if Prime Minister Modi would not face such consequences, Kharge said, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega."
It was quickly passed through social media and it was received with condemnation from BJP leaders. The party accused Kharge of attacking the Prime Minister and called for an apology.
BJP leaders take part in protest in Bengaluru.
After the row, BJP leaders and workers protested in Bengaluru to oppose Kharge’s comments. Demonstrators called for an apology from the Congress president and criticized the language used in Patna.
Police intervened during the demonstration and detained several protesters. R Ashoka and CN Ashwath Narayan were among the prominent BJP leaders arrested.
The police action also brought more attention to the protest as videos of the detentions and reports about the detentions were posted online. The demonstration was part of the BJP’s wider response and similar protests were also reported in other locations.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Police detains several BJP leaders, including Ashwath Narayan and LoP Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka, while they are protesting against Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge for his remarks over PM Modi. https://t.co/p3Hh9qSKak
— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2026
BJP and Congress Exchange Political Charges
BJP leaders denounced Kharge’s comments, arguing that public representatives need to keep their dignity in talking to political opponents. It was suggested that the Congress leadership apologize for the incident.
The comment was also criticized by some senior BJP leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who called it “disgusting,” the paper said.
Congress leaders, by contrast, said the comments should be understood in the context of the political context and in response to the exchange during the event. The controversy has reignited the debate around personal attacks, political rhetoric and the standards of senior public representatives.
Political Tensions Continue
The Bengaluru detentions illustrate how remarks at a political gathering can quickly escalate into protests and confrontations between rival parties. The issue, coming at a time of wider disputes between BJP and Congress over electoral processes and national political issues, has a political angle to it.
As the controversy develops, we need to get clear on the circumstances of the detentions, what charges were filed and when the detained leaders were released.
The incident has once again put politics and protests in the center of BJP-Congress conflict. Any further developments, including an official response from Kharge or details from Bengaluru police, would shape the next phase of the political dispute.
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