New Delhi, Oct. 26 -- BJP leaders across several states on Monday condemned Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's father, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde calling the statement "highly unfortunate" and former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar urging Kharge to apologise.

The remarks triggered a political exchange, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of lowering the level of political discourse, while CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar defended Kharge, saying the veteran leader might not have been able to control the flow of his speech and alleging that the BJP leadership was unsettled by ongoing public movements.

Shinde said Kharge's remarks about the Prime Minister and his p...