Bharatiya Janata party has called for a nationwide protest on Monday, over a prominent opposition leader's "indecent and offensive" remark about about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi caused controversy.
BJP spokespersons and regional leaders said they were organizing protest rallies across the country, including some that plan to burn effigies.
What caused the controversy?
The incident occurred at an Indian National Congress (INC) party event in the eastern state of Bihar, where party president Mallikarjun Kharge was speaking about the controversial national voter roll revision.
The party has recently intensified its year-long campaign against PM Modi over claims of using the revision process to "steal votes." A recent news report over mass deletions of voter names and irregularities by India's election body have also led to major protests led by opposition parties, political pressure groups and student organizations.
At the INC event, Kharge claimed that all officials responsible for the voter roll irregularities, including Modi, would be sent to jail.
In response, an audience member reportedly shouted out: “As long as there is no rebellion, Modi won’t go anywhere,” news agency Press Trust of India reported. Kharge responded, saying "Modi ka baap bhi jayega."
That translates to "even Modi's father will go (to jail)."
While the terminology is a commonly used phrase in India, BJP leaders argued that it was deeply offensive to invoke the prime minister's late father over politics.
BJP accuses INC of 'cheap politics'
"Mallikarjun Kharge appears to have lost all sense of decorum. “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” — is this the language expected from the national president of a party that claims to uphold democratic values?," a BJP spokesperson wrote on social media.
"Oppose politically, but don't turn the respect for late parents into a weapon of your cheap politics. The country is watching everything. 140 crore Indians will never forgive those who insult their elders!" BJP's social media handle said. Crore is equivalent to 10 million in the Indian numbering system.
Meanwhile, INC leaders defended Kharge, saying BJP too had often made personal remarks targeting their party members at rallies.
Amit Shah slams Kharge over 'father' remark
Indian Home Minister, and Prime Minister Modi's right-hand man, Amit Shah on Monday slammed opposition president Mallikarjun Kharge for making an "indecent remark" about the premier's late father.
"This is not the first time that the Congress party has used abusive language against Modi ji or his family. At times, they have hurled insults at his revered mother, at times called him 'merchant of death,' and at times mocked his poverty by calling him 'chaiwala.' Under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, the Congress party keeps crossing the limits of indecency every day," Shah said on X.
