Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday strongly condemned derogatory remarks made about his late mother from the stage of a Congress-RJD rally during Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar’s Darbhanga district. Calling the abuse “deeply painful,” Modi said the incident insulted not just his mother, but all mothers, sisters, and daughters across the country.

Speaking at a virtual launch of the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, Modi addressed over 20 lakh women from rural self-help groups, saying the vulgar slogans were a “new low in Indian politics.” He said, “My mother, who had nothing to do with politics, is no more. I never imagined that such abusive language would be used against her on a political stage.”

“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.

“Even Death Didn’t Spare My Mother”: Modi Turns Emotional

Visibly emotional, Modi shared how his late mother, Heeraben Modi, who passed away after turning 100, had devoted her life to raising her children amid poverty. “She separated me from her so that I could serve millions of mothers like you,” he said. Modi added that those born into political dynasties “can’t understand the pain of a poor mother.”

“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 dynasties in the Opposition) cannot digest this,” he said, taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav, both from political dynasties.

“Mother is our world. Mother is our self-respect. I had not even imagined what happened a few days ago in this tradition-rich Bihar. My mother was abused from the stage of RJD-Congress in Bihar,” said PM Modi, appearing visibly emotional.

He asked why his late mother, a private figure uninvolved in politics, was made a target. “These so-called yuvraajs, born with silver spoons, believe power is inherited. But the people of Bihar have made the son of a poor mother the Pradhan Sevak, and they can’t digest this,” he said, in a veiled swipe at Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav.

Political Reactions and Arrests

The abusive remarks were reportedly shouted during Rahul Gandhi’s rally on August 28 in Darbhanga. A viral video showed a man hurling slurs against PM Modi’s mother from a Congress-RJD platform. Police later arrested one man, Mohammad Rizvi alias Raza (20), while another accused is on the run.

The BJP has strongly condemned the remarks, calling them “shameful and unforgivable.” Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal broke down in tears during Modi’s speech. Meanwhile, Congress and RJD leaders have distanced themselves, claiming their top leaders were not on stage during the incident. Congress’s Pawan Khera alleged the BJP planted the abuser to malign their campaign.

After the video circulated on social media, the BJP said it was a new low in politics. “This has crossed all limits of insult, hate and crassness. This is such a mistake that 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,” the BJP said on X. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said BJP’s “agents” entered the Congress event and used slang to raise a political storm. “They are frustrated over our yatra. They want to divert attention.”

Addressing over 20 lakh women through video conferencing, he added, “These abuses are not just an insult to my mother. These are insults to the mothers, sisters and daughters of the country. I know… how bad all of you, every mother of Bihar, felt after seeing and hearing this! I know, as much pain as I have in my heart, the people of Bihar are also in the same pain.”

PM Modi concluded by saying, “Modi might forgive those who used such language, but will the mothers of Bihar, or Chhathi Maiya, pardon them?” He reiterated his commitment to women’s empowerment, announcing a ₹105 crore fund for women-led cooperatives and urging citizens to support swadeshi products.

RJD’s Mrityunjay Tiwari slammed the Prime Minister for using his mother as a shield and fanning emotions for votes. “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 accused the Prime Minister of using his mother for politics.