The political uproar erupted after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's attack on Narendra Modi, to which the former Mysuru MP Pratap Simha was quick to respond. Simha criticised Kharge’s words and said his political career has been long, and he has the right to complain about the language he used against the Prime Minister.
A few words later, Pratap Simha said: “Mallikarjun Kharge ji, you have spent 50 long years in politics. If anyone else had said this about you, you'd have already filed a case calling it an insult to the entire Dalit community. So, sir, what kind of case should be filed against you?” The media is on point about how the BJP and Congress are fighting to control the people of India and the country, with the issue of language, public behaviour and treatment of political leaders being at the centre.
Pratap Simha Questions Kharge's Remarks Against PM Modi
Pratap Simha’s reply was about the contradiction between Kharge’s political experience and his criticism of Modi. Referring to Kharge’s lengthy political career, Simha questioned how the Congress president would respond if someone else spoke about him in front of others in this kind of language.
The former Mysuru MP’s statement was framed as a question about the standards of political criticism. Simha said Kharge would have taken similar remarks against himself as an insult to the Dalit community and would have taken legal action. He then asked what kind of case should be brought against Kharge for his comments.
The response has caught attention because it directly challenges the Congress president’s statements and brings his political identity and public position into the discussion. Simha’s claim also illustrates the larger political conflict about whether leaders need to distinguish between the criticism of political decisions and language that targets people or their families.
ಖರ್ಗೆಯವರೇ, ಇದೇ ಮಾತನ್ನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ತಂದೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬೇರೆಯವರು ಹೇಳಿದ್ರೆ….?! https://t.co/fKgYlJNwRb
— Prathap Simha (@mepratap) October 26, 2026ALSO READ
Mallikarjun Kharge's Remarks in Bihar Trigger Political Row
The controversy began after Mallikarjun Kharge spoke at a public assembly in Patna on 25 October 2026, marking the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar's first Chief Minister Dr Shri Krishna Singh, popularly known as Shri Babu.
Kharge was reportedly reacting to a member of the audience who said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not leave office. When the Congress president said, "Modi ka baap bhi jayega," which was widely interpreted as a provocative statement about the Prime Minister's political future.
Kharge also criticised the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Election Commission of India. He also said electoral processes and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could affect opposition supporters. These allegations were part of his general criticism of the BJP-led government and electoral system.
The remarks were seized up in the political debate, and BJP leaders in the government immediately criticised the language of the Congress president, he said. The incident has brought the conflict between the two major political parties to a head and the two major parties into focus.
BJP Leaders Criticise Kharge's Choice of Words
Kharge's statement was criticised by some BJP leaders, who called it inappropriate political language from a senior political leader. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticised the Congress president for the language that goes beyond political decorum and the party’s behaviour.
The BJP’s criticism was of the use of language directed towards the Prime Minister and the atmosphere in politics at large around personal comments. Party leaders argued that political disagreements should be expressed by criticising policies and decisions and not through family reference.
Still, the Congress has defended its president in view of the backlash. The controversy has also exposed the competing interpretations of political rhetoric: the BJP’s criticism of Kharge’s language and Congress’ position in the larger political dispute.
BJP Files Complaint Against Kharge Over Remark
The controversy didn’t just extend to political statements, with the BJP filing a police complaint against Mallikarjun Kharge in Patna on 25 October. The complaint was for his remarks on Narendra Modi and asked for an apology within 24 hours.
The complaint has added a legal dimension to the political dispute. But a complaint itself does not establish that there has been a criminal offence. Any further action would depend on the authorities that were to look at the complaint and the circumstances of the statement.
The episode has also raised questions about how legal complaints are used in political disputes and what is the difference between criticism and provocative rhetoric and legally actionable speech.
Political Rhetoric Becomes Centre of Debate
Pratap Simha's response has made political leaders’ language and expectations for their public statements more apparent. By mentioning Kharge’s 50 years in politics, Simha questioned whether senior leaders should be held to the same standards when responding to personal criticism.
The dispute has also brought up the matter of political experience, public duty and limitations of verbal warfare in democratic debate. Political leaders frequently criticise one another over policy, electoral issues and governance, but remarks about personal references often provoke reactions beyond the political dispute.
As the BJP and Congress continue to fight about the incident, Kharge’s comments and Pratap Simha’s response have become a flashpoint in the political battle. Political language and accountability are now at the centre of the argument, and party leaders are sure to say more when the issue comes to the forefront.
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