Women workers from NDA allies in Bihar on Thursday enforced a five-hour statewide bandh to protest alleged abuses directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother during the Congress’ recently concluded ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’. The women’s wings of the BJP, JD(U) and other coalition partners spearheaded the bandh, which began at 7 a.m., with demonstrations held in Patna and several other districts. At Patna’s Income Tax roundabout, protesters carried placards, raised slogans, and condemned the Congress and RJD over the issue.

Later in the day, senior BJP leaders, state ministers, MPs, MLAs, and party workers are scheduled to hold a sit-in at the party’s state headquarters. According to a BJP statement, state president Dilip Jaiswal, MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dharmshila Gupta, state minister Nitin Nabin, along with other senior leaders, will join the protest.

Patna (Central) Superintendent of Police Diksha told PTI that security forces had been deployed across key areas to prevent any untoward incidents. Similar demonstrations by NDA constituents were also reported from Nawada, Katihar, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and other regions of Bihar. The controversy stems from a viral video circulated last week, allegedly showing a person using an expletive during a Congress programme near Darbhanga. The local organiser claimed no prominent party leaders were present when the incident occurred. The accused, a 25-year-old resident of Darbhanga, has since been arrested, but tensions remain high, with BJP workers clashing with Congress leaders at the opposition party’s state office.

Prime Minister Modi, reacting to the incident on September 2, said he was “deeply pained” by the remarks. Holding back tears, he stressed that while he might personally forgive the Congress and RJD, the people of Bihar would never excuse them. “My late mother had no connection with politics, so why was she insulted?” the Prime Minister said, adding, “I may choose to forgive, but the people of this country will never accept an affront to mothers. It is now the responsibility of every son of Bihar to hold the RJD-Congress alliance accountable. In every town and street, their leaders must be reminded that disrespect towards mothers and sisters will not be tolerated.”