NEW DELHI — Central ministers and top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have unleashed a sharp counteroffensive against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, condemning his conduct at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ student interaction in Indore.
The controversy centers on a joint stage routine with standup comic Pulkit Mani, during which the Congress leader was seen laughing along to mimicked gestures and lines referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother.
Major Reactions Across Ruling Party Leadership
-
Pralhad Joshi (Union Education Minister): Stated that weaponizing a student platform to mock the Prime Minister’s late mother reflects an “absolute nadir of moral bankruptcy” and a complete absence of basic political decorum.
-
CR Kesavan (BJP National Spokesperson): Labelled the act “uncouth and foul-mouthed,” asserting that the public rejection of Congress and its student wing NSUI in the recent DUSU elections stems directly from such hostility toward elders.
-
Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand Chief Minister): Expressed deep anguish, remarking that mothers should never be dragged into political disputes and calling the behavior a “stain on the dignity of Indian politics.”
-
Kiren Rijiju (Union Cabinet Minister): Shared video clips of the interaction on social media, asserting that the opposition party has turned into a “party of comedians.”
Focus of the Foreign Policy Critique
The comedy segment was integrated into a wider discussion on national security and foreign affairs. Using mimicry to mock executive foreign visits, Gandhi argued on stage that the Prime Minister’s primary duty during overseas trips is to protect sovereign national interests rather than cultivate personal friendships with foreign heads of state.
