A comedian’s mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rahul Gandhi’s Indore event has triggered a fresh BJP-Congress political controversy.
New Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday intensified its criticism of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi following a stand-up performance involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mimicry at Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme in Indore on September 19.
Comedian Pulkit Mani appeared on stage with Gandhi and mimicked Modi’s mannerisms and speaking style, including references to his interactions with foreign leaders. Gandhi also joined the exchange, responding to the comedian while using the act to make a point about the Prime Minister’s foreign-policy responsibilities.
The episode triggered criticism from several BJP leaders, who alleged that the performance crossed the limits of political discourse. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal accused Gandhi of misleading students and insulting Indian culture, while urging him to speak responsibly.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also took a jibe at Gandhi, suggesting that he should consider becoming a stand-up comedian. BJP leaders Prakash Javadekar, Nishikant Dubey and Virendra Sachdeva separately criticised the Congress leader and questioned his approach to student outreach.
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan accused Gandhi of endorsing what he described as offensive remarks during the performance. Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also criticised the episode, alleging that references to Modi’s late mother were inappropriate.
The controversy comes as Gandhi’s student-focused programme seeks to highlight concerns surrounding education, recruitment, unemployment and examination-related issues. The Indore event was originally planned for September 12 but was postponed after permission to use the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was denied. The BJP-Congress dispute over the stage performance has now become a fresh political flashpoint, alongside the wider debate over the tone and focus of political outreach to young voters
