'Party of comedians & jokers': PM Modi's mimicry at Rahul Gandhi's event draws BJP ire

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday slammed Congress after a comedian mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi while sharing the stage with leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at his "Chhatron Ki Goonj" event in Indore.In a social media post on X, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress has become "a party of comedians and jokers.""Congress Party has become a Party of Comedians & Jokers!" Rijiju said."They are out forever.... RIP," he added.Union education minister Pralhad Joshi also targeted Rahul Gandhi and accused him of stooping to an "absolute nadir of moral bankruptcy.""Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have stooped to an absolute nadir of moral bankruptcy," Joshi said."Weaponising a student interaction to mock and insult the late mother of PM Modi ji reveals a shocking lack of basic human empathy and political culture," he added.BJP leader CR Kesavan also criticised Rahul, alleging that the Congress leader had shared the stage with individuals who mocked an elderly woman by referring to her as a "setting" and accused the Congress leader of laughing at the remarks."Rahul Gandhi shared the stage yesterday with cheap, vulgar trolls who insulted our Naari Shakti by mocking a frail elderly Mataji as a 'setting'," Kesavan said.Kesavan further alleged that the incident reflected an "uncouth culture" and claimed that such conduct was one of the reasons Rahul Gandhi had failed to connect with the youth.This comes after standup comedian Pulkit Mani shared the stage with Rahul and mimicked PM Modi during student-focused programme.During the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore on Saturday, Rahul launched a sharp attack on the government over paper leaks and a host of student grievances.Rahul said the programme aimed to restore the "hope" that students had lost in the education system."We want the hope that was shattered in your hearts to return with renewed vigour. We want you to start believing in education and the system once again," Rahul said.He said curiosity, love and affection, humility, honesty and fearlessness were qualities that define a student, and argued that students who ask questions are essential to building a strong nation."Students do not hate. They treat one another with affection, kindness and mutual respect," the Congress leader said, adding that a genuine seeker of knowledge "cannot be arrogant" and should remain tolerant of differing viewpoints.Earlier, at a Congress event in August, Rahul took swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, suggesting that the PM’s diplomacy is overly associated with hugging foreign leaders.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.