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Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of double standards in his use of language. Moitra's remarks came shortly after Modi publicly condemned abusive rhetoric directed at his late mother during ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ rally in Bihar, framing his response as a broader plea for respectful discourse in politics.
In her post, Moitra listed several past instances where she claimed Modi had employed derogatory or personal jabs against opposition figures. She referenced the "Didi O Didi" taunt aimed at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during election campaigns, likening it to "streetside hooting." She also cited alleged remarks calling former Congress president Sonia Gandhi a "Jersey Cow" and "Congress ki Vidhwa" (Congress's widow), as well as a "50 crore ki girlfriend" comment purportedly directed at the late wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. “From the Didi O Didi streetside hoot against Mamata Banerjee, to Jersey Cow & Congress ki Vidhwa against Sonia Gandhiji to 50 crore ki Gilfriend for Sashi Tharoor‘s wife, Hon’ble Narendra Modi has said it all. Today’s Mind Your Language speech from him is a bit rich”, she posted on ‘X’
On August 27, 2025, in Darbhanga district, a viral video captured an individual- who was then unidentified but now arrested and alleged to be associated with the Congress party - using profane Hindi slurs against Prime Minister Modi and his deceased mother, Hiraben Modi, who passed away in 2022. The incident occurred amid Rahul Gandhi's multi-city yatra, organised by the INDIA bloc to highlight voter rights amidst ‘vote theft’ row and mobilise support ahead of assembly elections in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly condemned the episode, labelling it "extremely shameful" and filing a First Information Report (FIR) with Bihar police. A man identified as Mohammad Rizvi was arrested in connection with the abuse, and a Youth Congress leader issued a public apology, distancing the party from the remarks.
The fallout intensified political tensions, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announcing a five-hour Bihar bandh on September 4, 2025, to protest what they described as the opposition's "insult to motherhood." BJP leaders, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, accused the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress of stooping to "abuse politics," claiming it reflected a deeper disrespect for women and family values.
Addressing the issue for the first time on Tuesday during a virtual event to launch the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited- a cooperative initiative aimed at empowering rural women through financial support, Prime Minister Modi expressed deep emotional distress over the incident. "What happened in Bihar a few days ago, I hadn't even imagined it. From the RJD-Congress platform, my mother was abused," he said, emphasising that his mother had "nothing to do with politics" and questioning why she was targeted even after her passing.
Modi broadened the criticism, stating, "These abuses are not just an insult to my mother. These are insults to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of the country. Every mother feels insulted; it's a painful moment for me." He invoked Bihar's cultural ethos, quoting a verse to underscore the state's tradition of respect, and suggested the episode revealed a "mindset that women are weak." While affirming he might personally forgive the perpetrators, Modi warned that "the people of Bihar won't pardon them," positioning the controversy as a reflection of the opposition's desperation.
The prime minister's remarks have been interpreted by critics like Moitra as a call to "mind your language," contrasting sharply with his own past rhetorical style, which opponents argue has often veered into personal territory. Political analysts note that this exchange highlights the escalating bitterness in Indian politics, especially in Bihar, where alliances are fluid and elections loom. The RJD and Congress have denied orchestrating the abuse, calling it an isolated act by fringe elements, while urging focus on substantive issues like unemployment and voter rights.
