Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling the Indian citizens his family while presiding over a tumultuous decade with pervasive issues such as inflation, unemployment, economic instability, and polarisation. Ramesh accused Modi of ‘anyaay kaal’ or a period of injustice, questioning why he would cause such distress to his so-called family members. He further discredited Modi’s style, branding him more as a marketing figure than a respected leader who, in his eyes, fails to empathize with the common Indian.
The political spat grew more intense when Lalu Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) questioned PM Modi’s Hindu beliefs and accused him of spreading societal hatred. This prompted BJP leaders to unify under the slogan ‘Modi ka parivaar’ (Modi’s family) on their social media profiles in support of Modi’s stance that the entire nation is his family. The campaign takes off as echoes of the successful 2019 ‘main bhi chowkidar’ movement in the face of the Congress’s criticism.
On March 4, during a BJP gathering in Chennai, PM Modi, confronted with the allegations, passionately declared ‘Mera Bharat, Mera Parivar’ (My India, My Family) in response to the attacks from the opposition. Modi juxtaposed his ‘Nation First’ philosophy against the ‘family first’ approach he attributes to the Congress and DMK, highlighting a commitment to serve the vast family of Indian citizens, especially the marginalized such as the poor and farmers. He also welcomed the recent Supreme Court judgment which suggested that lawmakers are not immune from prosecution regarding corruption, a move that Modi implies will promote ‘swachch rajneethi’ (clean politics) and counter the dynastic politics of opposition parties that, according to him, have kept potential youthful leaders at bay.