The episode sparked a fierce backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in Guwahati, denounced the Congress campaign as a “politics of hatred” and demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for the remarks against the Prime Minister’s late mother. The Bihar Governor, Arif Mohammed Khan, added that the abuse undermined democratic values, urging Gandhi to take any grievances through legal channels rather than resorting to disrespect.
Law enforcement has taken action in response to the incident. A man initially identified in video footage as hurling the abuse was arrested in Darbhanga; the individual, named Mohammad Rizvi alias Raza, faces charges related to the slogans. A court docket has also been filed in Muzaffarpur against Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav under allegations of inciting abusive slogans during the event. A hearing is scheduled for 11 September 2025.
The political fallout has been significant. BJP leaders, including Danish Eqbal and Krishna Singh Kallu, lodged formal police complaints in Patna, while state and national party units ramped up condemnation. JD, as an ally, demanded that Gandhi and Yadav retract remarks and issue apologies. In contrast, Congress distanced itself, arguing that the slogans emerged from unidentified individuals among the crowd and did not reflect party policy.
Tensions escalated further in Patna, where clashes erupted between BJP and Congress workers outside the state party headquarters. Several individuals sustained injuries, prompting police intervention to bring the situation under control.
Rahul Gandhi responded through social media, invoking the principle that truth and non‑violence endure. “Truth and non‑violence prevail; lies and violence cannot stand before them,” he posted, affirming his commitment to upholding democratic and constitutional values.
The Yatra itself continues to attract attention across Bihar. Covering more than 1,300 km over 16 days and across 20 districts, it culminates in a major rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on 1 September 2025. The campaign casts itself as a crusade for voter rights, highlighting alleged disenfranchisement through the Special Intensive Revision process, which Gandhi has derided as “vote theft.”
Amid the political polarisation, Owaisi’s intervention stands out as a plea for measured dialogue. Urging opponents to refrain from descending into indecency, he framed the exchange not as a partisan rebuke but as a reminder that the tone of political debate affects the integrity of democratic discourse.