Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over a recent stage performance in which he and stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took a dig at the Congress, writing on X that the party had become a "Party of Comedians & Jokers" and was finished.
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan described the performance as "foul-mouthed antics" by "cheap, vulgar trolls", saying that no decent or sensible person would find the act entertaining.
He said the "uncouth culture" supported by Rahul Gandhi explained why the Congress leader had failed to connect with young people, referring to comments previously made by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.
Kesavan further argued that by backing such performances, Rahul Gandhi lacked the seriousness and stature required to be regarded as a political leader.
He also accused the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha of insulting "Naari Shakti" by making fun of a frail elderly woman during the skit.
The BJP leader also attacked the Congress over the performance of its student wing, NSUI, in the recently conducted Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections. He claimed the opposition party's political approach had failed to build a meaningful connection with younger voters.
Kesavan said the "politics of bitterness and hate" associated with Rahul Gandhi was the reason Congress suffered a major setback in the DUSU elections.
In the student elections, the RSS-affiliated ABVP secured three of the four central panel positions, while Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen, who had been denied an NSUI ticket, won the vice-president's post.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also targeted Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, alleging that the performance was intended to mock Prime Minister Modi's mother.
Joshi called the episode "shameful and disgusting", accusing Rahul Gandhi and Congress of reaching a new low in political conduct. He alleged that using a student interaction to mock and insult the late mother of PM Modi demonstrated a lack of basic empathy and political culture.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also criticised Gandhi, saying that laughing at an insult directed at a mother had exposed his political upbringing before the country. She accused him of "mental bankruptcy" and said the incident had once again revealed his approach to politics.
Brief overview of the controversy
The performance that sparked the controversy was held at the Congress's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Indore on Saturday. Stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani joined Rahul Gandhi on stage and imitated Prime Minister Modi's speech, mannerisms and public persona.
A section of the performance was later linked to an incident in which PM Modi had reportedly asked organisers to arrange a chair for an elderly woman attending a BJP rally.
Mani also mimicked Modi's familiar conversational exchanges with foreign leaders, repeatedly using the phrase "my friend".
At one point, he asked Gandhi, "How are you, my friend?" Gandhi replied, "How are you, Modi ji?" Mani then responded, "Great harassment," followed by exaggerated laughter.
