PM Modi 'abused': Rahul's veiled dig amid Congress, BJP clash; grand old party makes 'agent' claim

NEW DELHI: A war of words ensued between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday after abuses were allegedly hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the INDIA bloc's " Voter Adhikar Yatra " at Darbhanga.

A day after the incident, Union home minister Amit Shah sharpened his attack against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and demanded an apology. While addressing a rally in Guwahati, Shah said, "Congress leaders have committed the most condemnable act by using derogatory words against PM Modi's mother during their Ghuspaithiya Bachao Yatra. I condemn it. Every Congress leader has spoken derogatory words against PM Modi."

"I would urge Rahul Gandhi that if there is even a little shame left, he must apologise to Modi ji, his late mother, and the people of the country," he added.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi said that "truth and non-violence" will prevail over "falsehood and violence."

In a social media post on X, Rahul said, "Truth and non-violence prevail, falsehood and violence simply cannot endure."

"Strike and break as much as you wish to strike and break – we will continue to protect the truth and the constitution. Truth alone triumphs," he added.

Additionally, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the derogatory remarks against the prime minister were made by "BJP agents" to divert attention from the Yatra.

"This remark has been made by their (BJP's) own agent. They just want to create an issue so that they can divert attention from our Yatra. Their theft has been caught, so these people are frustrated," Khera said.

"Find out who that person is, who was arrested, whose man he is. The public is watching everything, and the entire country is watching the BJP's goondaism," he added.

This comes as party workers from the BJP and Congress clashed in Patna after the saffron party staged a protest against the alleged abuses hurled at PM Modi.

In a video shared by news agency ANI, party workers were seen attacking each other with party flags.

DSP (Law and Order) Krishna Murari Prasad said that party workers also pelted stones at each other during the clash.

"Stone pelting has occurred. We will conduct a detailed inquiry, and if there has been any loss of property, an application will definitely be made at the police station in that regard and an investigation will be conducted," he said.

"As soon as we received information about the incident, we took prompt action. Nearby police stations were also informed and instructed to reach the spot. We will talk to the local police station to find out when they received information about this (the demonstration)," he added.

Earlier, a video of some men allegedly hurling abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother from the venue of Rahul Gandhi's rally in Bihar went viral.

The video, shared on social media by several accounts, showed unidentified individuals using Hindi slurs against PM Modi from the dais of Rahul Gandhi's rally. The Congress leader is holding a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar along with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar also condemned the incident and termed it deplorable.

"During the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga, the use of highly inappropriate language against the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his late mother from the platform of Congress and RJD is utterly deplorable, and I condemn it," Nitish wrote on X.