New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The BJP has stepped up its criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following his appearance at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Indore, where his on-stage exchange with stand-up comic Pulkit Mani drew a sharp political response from the ruling party.
During the event on Saturday, Gandhi and Mani exchanged lines and gestures that were interpreted by BJP leaders as a parody directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including an imitation of the Prime Minister’s voice.
The episode quickly became a point of political confrontation, with BJP leaders accusing Gandhi of crossing the limits of political discourse.
BJP Calls It Disrespectful
BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said the performance amounted to mocking an elderly woman and criticised Gandhi for laughing during the exchange.
Kesavan argued that such conduct did not reflect the political culture expected from public representatives. He also linked the controversy to what he described as Congress’s difficulty in connecting with younger voters.
Referring to the recent Delhi University Students’ Union election, Kesavan said the Congress and its student organisation NSUI had failed to retain influence on the campus, while the RSS-backed ABVP secured a majority of posts.
He also contrasted Gandhi’s conduct at the Indore programme with Prime Minister Modi’s reported gesture of arranging a chair for an elderly person, using the comparison to attack the Congress leader’s political conduct.
Joshi, Dhami Join Criticism
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also criticised Gandhi in a post on X, alleging that the Congress leader had used a student interaction to mock and insult the Prime Minister’s late mother.
Joshi described the incident as evidence of what he called a decline in political and moral standards within the Congress.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also criticised Gandhi’s remarks, saying the Congress leader’s language was becoming increasingly inappropriate.
Dhami described the episode as damaging to the dignity of political discourse and said voters were closely watching the conduct and language of political leaders.
Gandhi’s Criticism Focused on Foreign Policy
The remarks came during Gandhi’s discussion on the Modi government’s approach to international relations.
While making his political point, Gandhi used an imitation of the Prime Minister’s voice and referred to the distinction between personal friendship and the responsibilities attached to the office of Prime Minister.
Gandhi’s argument was that the country’s foreign policy should be guided by national interests rather than personal relationships between leaders.
The BJP, however, focused on the manner in which the point was delivered, making the incident the latest flashpoint in the continuing political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP.
