Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emotional condemnation of derogatory remarks made about his late mother at a political rally in Bihar has ignited a fierce debate over the boundaries of political discourse in India, especially when it comes to respect for women. The controversy erupted after an INDIA bloc rally in Darbhanga, Bihar, on August 28, 2025, where a local Congress supporter, Mohammad Rizvi, allegedly hurled expletives at Modi's late mother from the stage. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, led to Rizvi’s arrest and a 14-day judicial custody, as reported by The Indian Express.
Addressing the matter publicly for the first time on September 2, 2025, Modi did not mince words. Speaking at the virtual inauguration of the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, a cooperative aimed at supporting rural women’s entrepreneurship, he said, “Devotion and faith in the mother is the identity of Bihar… For our government, the honour of a mother, her respect and ‘swabhiman’ are a huge priority. It is mothers who are our whole world.” He continued, “In Bihar, from an RJD-Congress stage, my mother was verbally abused. These abuses are disrespectful not just to my mother, but for the mothers, sisters and daughters of the nation… I am well aware that the pain and agony that this caused in my heart is the same felt by the people of Bihar.”
Modi’s words carried the weight of personal grief, referencing his late mother Heeraben, who passed away in 2022. He credited her sacrifices with enabling his decades-long public life. “I wanted to serve Ma Bharti; that is why the mother who gave birth to me freed me from duties towards her — she gave me the ‘aashirwad’ that son, go and serve the crores of mothers and the poor in this country… That mother, who had nothing to do with politics… was abused with ugly ‘gaalis’ from an RJD-Congress stage,” Modi said, as quoted by The Indian Express.
The Prime Minister’s condemnation was not limited to the specific incident. He used the moment to draw a broader contrast between what he described as “naamdaars” (those born to prominent political families) and “kaamgaars” (those who toil), suggesting that the former see governance as their family property. “They think that the chair should rightfully be theirs,” Modi said, taking a veiled swipe at opposition leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, according to Times of India. “But you, the people of the nation, have blessed a poor mother’s hardworking son and made him the Prime Minister. This fact is not sitting well with the entitled ones.”
Modi’s remarks came days after Tejashwi Yadav, a key RJD leader, had unilaterally declared himself the chief ministerial face of the opposition INDIA bloc at a rally, challenging the current Nitish Kumar-led government. The political rivalry, already heated in the run-up to Bihar’s assembly elections later this year, took on a more personal and emotional tone in the wake of the Darbhanga incident.
According to India Today, Modi called the episode “a symptom of vengeance and an anti-women mindset” and urged the people of Bihar to hold the RJD and Congress accountable. “The expletives used on an RJD-Congress stage were not just for my mother…but for crores of mothers and sisters. These princes born in stately families will not be able to understand the penance of a poor mother, the pain of her son (when she is abused),” he asserted.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a BJP ally, also weighed in, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “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.” His statement reflected the bipartisan shock at the language used, even as political tensions remain high.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the incident has rippled through India’s political landscape. BJP supporters organized protest marches in several states, denouncing the remarks made during the Voter Adhikar Yatra. The BJP’s Darbhanga district president, Aditya Narayan Choudhary, lodged the police complaint that resulted in Rizvi’s arrest, according to India Today.
Yet the controversy has not been one-sided. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra publicly criticized Modi for what she described as his own history of derogatory remarks toward women leaders in the Opposition. In a pointed post on X, she wrote, “From the Didi O Didi streetside hoot against Mamata Banerjee to Jersey Cow and Congress ki Vidhwa against Sonia Gandhiji to 50 crore ki Girlfriend for Shashi Tharoor’s wife…Honourable Narendra Modi has said it all. Today’s Mind Your Language speech from him is a bit rich!” as cited by OneIndia.
Moitra’s comments referenced several controversial statements attributed to Modi over the years, including the ‘Congress ki vidhwa’ remark reportedly made at a 2018 rally in Rajasthan, the ‘Jersey cow’ comment during LK Advani’s Bharat Uday Yatra in 2004, and the ‘Didi O Didi’ slogan used in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. Each instance sparked backlash and debates about respect for women in political life. The TMC, in particular, has long argued that such rhetoric is disrespectful and undermines the dignity of women leaders.
In his September 2 speech, Modi acknowledged the deep pain caused by the Darbhanga incident, stating, “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… These abuses are not just an insult to my mother. They are insults to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of this country.” He added, “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.”
Modi also used the occasion to transfer Rs 105 crore to the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, reinforcing his government’s commitment to empowering rural women through entrepreneurship and community-led enterprises. By tying the personal and political together, he sought to highlight the government’s priorities and the symbolic importance of respecting women, especially mothers, in Indian society.
Yet, as the debate continues, the incident has become a flashpoint for broader questions about the tone and substance of political debate in India. While Modi has called for accountability and respect, critics like Moitra argue that all sides must reflect on their own language and conduct. As Bihar heads toward crucial assembly elections, the episode serves as a reminder of how personal pain and public politics often intertwine, shaping the national conversation in unexpected ways.
The events in Darbhanga have left a mark on the political landscape, prompting leaders and citizens alike to reflect on the values that should guide India’s democracy—especially when it comes to the dignity of women and the boundaries of political rivalry.
