Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce attack on the Congress-RJD alliance in Bihar on Thursday, alleging that his mother had been verbally abused on a campaign stage by the Opposition, an act he said humiliated mothers and sisters across the nation.
"In Bihar, slangs were used for my mother from an RJD-Congress stage. These slangs have not just insulted my mother, but every mother and sister in India. I know you are pained as much as I am after you heard this," the Prime Minister said while inaugurating the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, a scheme aimed at providing easier access to funds for women entrepreneurs in the state.
Speaking to nearly 20 lakh women via video conferencing, PM Modi recalled the struggles of his late mother, Heeraben Modi, who overcame poverty to raise him and his siblings. "Mother would be sick, but she kept working. She would save up every penny to get clothes made for us. There are crores of such mothers in our country. The place of a mother is higher than that of gods and goddesses," he said.
He added that the abusive words targeted not only his mother but also mothers and sisters across India. "The slang used on a Congress-RJD stage was not just for my mother, but for crores of mothers and sisters. Princes born in royal families won't understand the suffering of an underprivileged mother and her son's struggles. These people have been born with a golden and silver spoon. They believe power in Bihar belongs to their families. But you have blessed an underprivileged mother's son and made him pradhan sevak. The naamdars (a phrase the Prime Minister uses to target political dynasts in the Opposition) cannot digest this," he said, taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav, both from political dynasties.
"There is a long list of slangs they have used against me. Sometimes they call me neech (despicable), gandi nali ka keeda (low-life), a snake and now they have resorted to calling me 'tu'," the Prime Minister said, referring to Mr Gandhi referring to him as "tu" at a rally.
The controversy follows a viral video from Darbhanga district in Bihar, showing a group of youngsters shouting abusive words at a stage adorned with images of Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Yadav, while Congress supporters stood nearby waving party flags. The BJP called the incident a “new low in politics,” stating on X that “this has crossed all limits of insult, hate and crassness. Even if Rahul and Tejashwi hold their ears and perform a thousand squats to apologise, the people of Bihar won't forgive them. Extremely shameful.”
However, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that BJP “agents” infiltrated the Congress event to create a political storm, accusing them of trying to divert attention from their yatra. Both Congress and RJD leaders emphasized that neither Mr. Gandhi nor Mr. Yadav were on stage when the slangs were used and accused the BJP of exploiting the incident for political gain.
RJD’s Mrityunjay Tiwari criticized the Prime Minister for invoking his mother’s name, stating, "There should be no politics in a mother's name. The Prime Minister's mother is respected, but she should ensure she is not used for politics. Why does he stay silent when Rahul Gandhi's mother is abused?" Congress leader Udit Raj echoed the sentiment, accusing the Prime Minister of using his mother for political purposes.
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