PM Modi 'Abused' in Bihar: Amit Shah Demands Rahul Gandhi Apologise; BJP-Congress Workers Clash

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday demanded an apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after an alleged abusive remark targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother was reportedly made from a dais during the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga, Bihar. The episode has sparked a major political controversy in poll-bound Bihar, igniting clashes between BJP and Congress workers in Patna and prompting swift police action in Darbhanga where the alleged abuser was arrested.

A purported video circulating from the Darbhanga event appears to show a young man uttering a Hindi expletive directed at the Prime Minister from a raised platform as leaders including Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav departed the spot on motorcycles. The accused, identified as Mohammad Rizvi alias Raza (20), was arrested from Singhwara locality and a case was registered against him and others on the complaint of the BJP’s Darbhanga district president.

Amit Shah’s Demand: Apology and Accountability

Speaking at an event in Guwahati while inaugurating the Brahmaputra wing of the Raj Bhawan, Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi “should apologise if he has any shame left.” He characterised the Congress yatra as political posturing that had slipped “to the lowest level” and accused the party of dragging public discourse down with such incidents. Shah’s remarks echoed across the BJP’s political apparatus, with senior leaders asserting that no amount of abuse can diminish the Prime Minister’s stature and that the party would respond vigorously to what it described as a deliberate attempt to malign public figures.

Police Action and Legal Steps in Darbhanga

Bihar Police arrested the accused soon after the clip circulated, registering an FIR on the complaint of local BJP leaders. Officials said the arrested person was taken into custody from Darbhanga and that investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the utterance and whether it was part of a larger planned provocation. The swift arrest has been flagged by both sides — the BJP as proof of law-and-order action, and the Congress as a predictable attempt to politicise a singular incident.

Political Fallout: Clashes and Strong Reactions

The controversy quickly escalated into street-level clashes between BJP and Congress cadres in Patna, with both sides trading accusations of masterminding the provocation or exploiting it for political gain. The BJP demanded a public apology from the Congress leadership, alleging that the party’s yatra had allowed inflammatory rhetoric to surface. The Congress, while condemning personal attacks, has emphasised that a single individual’s action should not be conflated with the official position of the party leadership.

Voices Calling for Decorum: Mayawati and Others

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati criticised the declining tone of political discourse, urging parties to adhere to constitutional values and avoid statements that demean public institutions or individuals. She emphasised that politics should advance the interests of the poor and marginalized rather than descend into personal slurs. Several civil society commentators also expressed concern, warning that personal attacks risk polarising voters and distracting from substantive policy debates ahead of elections.

What Happened at the Yatra: Sequence and Context

The episode reportedly unfolded in Darbhanga as senior Congress leaders addressed and departed from a raised dais during the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’. Video footage shows crowds and a speaker on the platform, followed by the alleged expletive. Party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were leaving for Muzaffarpur on motorcycles along with allies when the incident occurred. The local BJP wing lodged a complaint, demanding immediate action and a public apology from Congress high command.

Broader Implications for Campaigning in Bihar

With Bihar heading into a crucial election cycle, the incident highlights how regional campaigns can rapidly become national flashpoints. Both parties are expected to recalibrate messaging and deploy senior leaders to manage fallout. The BJP is leveraging the episode to question Congress’ campaign conduct, while the Congress will likely stress that political mobilisations across states invariably draw diverse crowds and occasional aberrations — not representative of the party’s official stance.

Legal and Ethical Debate: Accountability vs. Political Exploitation

Legal experts note that speech that insults or maligns public figures can attract criminal complaints under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, but they also urge caution to prevent misuse of law to stifle dissent. Media analysts say the key is balanced reporting and due process: while the accused must face investigation if laws were broken, political parties and leaders should avoid sensationalising the matter at the cost of civic harmony.