Rahul Gandhi’s Modi mimicry draws BJP fire at Indore event

Gandhi appeared on stage with stand-up comic Pulkit Mani, where the two exchanged lines and gestures that were widely interpreted as a mockery of the prime minister.

Gandhi also mimicked PM Modi's voice while speaking about the government's diplomatic approach.

‘Insult to women’: BJP hits back

BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan accused Gandhi of insulting women by mocking what he described as a “frail mother”.

“No decent, right-thinking person would have found these foul-mouthed, third-rate antics amusing,” Kesavan said in a video statement, alleging that Gandhi's laughter and participation in the act reflected an “uncouth culture”.

Kesavan also linked the controversy to the Congress's performance in student politics, citing the recent Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election, where ABVP won a majority of the posts.

He further referred to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's comments about the party's difficulties in connecting with young voters.

Pralhad Joshi accuses Gandhi of ‘moral bankruptcy’

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also attacked Gandhi over the episode.

“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have stooped to an absolute nadir of moral bankruptcy,” Joshi said in a post on X.

He alleged that using a student interaction to mock and insult PM Modi's late mother demonstrated a lack of “basic human empathy and political culture”.

Pushkar Dhami also criticises Congress leader

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami joined the BJP's criticism, saying Gandhi's language was deteriorating “from bad to worse”.

Dhami described the remarks as a “stain on the dignity of Indian politics” and said such language did not represent India.

The BJP leaders' comments came amid a broader political clash surrounding Gandhi's Indore programme, which was organised as part of the Congress's outreach to students.

What Rahul Gandhi said at event

At the event, Gandhi criticised the Modi government's diplomatic approach while appearing with Pulkit Mani.

Gandhi said the prime minister's role was not simply about maintaining friendships with other countries but about protecting India's interests.

He also used an imitation of PM Modi's voice while making his point.

The ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme itself focused on issues concerning students, education and employment, while Gandhi used the platform to target the Modi government's policies and political approach.

Indore event had already triggered political row

The programme had faced controversy even before it took place.

The Congress was initially planning to hold the event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium but later shifted it to an alternative venue after permission for the stadium was not granted.

Police subsequently imposed 31 security conditions for the programme, with the security document citing the Justice J.S. Verma Commission's findings on security lapses surrounding former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.