PM Modi’s mimicry at Rahul Gandhi event irks BJP: ‘Mother is not subject of politics’

BJP Criticises Rahul Gandhi Over Comedy Act at Indore Student Event

Indiadailyupdate.com – A political dispute has intensified between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress after a comedy performance at a Rahul Gandhi-led programme in Indore included an imitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The controversy centres on the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” event, where stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani performed a brief act before Gandhi. Video clips from the programme were subsequently circulated by both parties, with the BJP arguing that Gandhi laughed during remarks linked to Modi’s interaction with an elderly woman at an earlier rally.

Gandhi, the Raebareli MP, was visible smiling and laughing after the performer referred to the prime minister’s earlier interaction. BJP leaders said the moment crossed an acceptable boundary in political debate, particularly because Modi’s late mother was mentioned during the act.

Comedy routine referred to Modi’s public mannerisms

Mani’s set featured an imitation of Modi’s speaking style and public mannerisms, including his interactions with foreign leaders. The comedian repeatedly used the expression “my friend”, a phrase associated in the act with the prime minister’s international engagements.

“My friend, how are you?”

Gandhi responded during the performance:

“I’m fine, how are you, Modi ji?”

The routine also referred to Modi’s foreign policy, a coin trick he had earlier performed with children, and the Galgotias controversy connected to the AI Summit earlier in the week. References to the prime minister’s mother became the focal point of the BJP’s objections.

BJP says the episode reflects a difference in political approach

The BJP’s national social-media account contrasted Modi’s earlier interaction with the elderly woman and Gandhi’s reaction at the Indore gathering. The party framed the matter as an example of what it called a wider difference between its own political values and the conduct of its opponents.

“On one side, PM Modi gave respect and affection to an elderly mother, while on the other side, Rahul Gandhi mocked her at his event. This is the very difference between politics of values and politics of showmanship,”

the BJP wrote.

Senior BJP figures also joined the criticism. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said mothers should not be drawn into partisan exchanges and argued that political opposition should retain basic standards of respect.

“A mother is not a subject of politics. The insult to a mother cannot be acceptable in any civilized society. Engage in political opposition, but laughing at the indecent remarks made about the late mother of the Prime Minister ji exposes your own political culture,”

Dhami wrote.

Prahlad Joshi, the newly appointed education minister, described the episode in sharply critical terms. He accused Gandhi and the Congress of using a student event to ridicule Modi’s late mother and said the incident showed a lack of empathy and political decorum.

“Shameful and disgusting! Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have stooped to an absolute nadir of moral bankruptcy. Weaponising a student interaction to mock and insult the late mother of PM Shri @narendramodi ji reveals a shocking lack of basic human empathy and political culture,”

Joshi said.

Questions over humour and political boundaries

BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan also condemned Gandhi for sharing the stage with people he said had insulted women and an elderly person. He characterised the episode as evidence of uncouth conduct and regressive political culture.

The dispute illustrates how quickly a live-event exchange can become a larger political issue when short clips circulate widely online. In this case, the central disagreement is not simply over an impersonation of the prime minister, but over whether the comments and Gandhi’s reaction treated a personal and family-related subject with appropriate sensitivity.

Political satire has long been part of public life, especially at rallies, student gatherings and campaign-linked events. Yet personal references involving family members often produce stronger reactions than criticism of policies, speeches or electoral rivals. BJP leaders have sought to place this incident in that category, arguing that an elderly woman and a mother should not become material for mockery.

The Congress shared footage from the programme as well, while the BJP’s response focused on Gandhi’s laughter and the material used in the comic performance. The exchange adds to the continuing confrontation between the two parties, whose leaders frequently trade allegations over political language, public conduct and the limits of criticism.

For audiences watching the debate unfold, the episode underlines the role played by viral video in modern political communication. A short on-stage interaction can be interpreted very differently by rival parties: one may see humour and audience engagement, while another may view the same scene as a breach of respect. The Indore event has now become the latest instance in which that divide has moved from a public programme to a national political argument.