Kiren Rijiju slams Congress as 'party of comedians' over Chhatron Ki Goonj mimicry row
Synopsis
A stand-up comedian's imitation of PM Modi at Rahul Gandhi's student outreach event in Indore became instant political ammunition — with Rijiju calling Congress a 'party of comedians' on X and BJP leaders questioning whether mimicry belongs at a forum meant to address unemployment and exam irregularities.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju posted on X on 20 September 2026 , calling Congress a 'Party of Comedians & Jokers' after a Modi mimicry clip surfaced from the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event.
Comedian Pulkit Mani imitated PM Modi's laugh, hand gestures, and greetings at the student-focused programme in Indore .
Rahul Gandhi , the Raebareli MP , was seen laughing during the performance, which Congress had streamed on its own social media.
Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam questioned the use of mimicry at an event meant to discuss student welfare, policy, and opportunities.
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav alleged Congress ignored student concerns across its 60 years in power at the Centre.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday, 20 September 2026, sharply attacked the Congress after a comedian mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore, with Gandhi — the Raebareli MP — visibly laughing during the act.
The incident has ignited a fresh political flashpoint, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) using the episode to question Congress's seriousness on student issues.
What Rijiju Said on X
Rijiju shared the Congress's own post on X featuring the mimicry clip and wrote: 'Congress Party has become a Party of Comedians & Jokers! They are out forever… RIP.' The post drew rapid engagement and amplified the controversy well beyond the Indore venue.
The Mimicry Performance
The performer, Pulkit Mani — described as an Indian stand-up comedian and social media content creator — imitated PM Modi's characteristic laugh, hand gestures, and the way he greets and embraces people. The act unfolded during a student-focused programme in which Rahul Gandhi had addressed concerns around unemployment and examination irregularities.
BJP Leaders Pile On
Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam questioned the appropriateness of the mimicry at what was billed as a serious student-welfare event. 'When will Rahul Gandhi himself reflect on the fact that mimicry can provide entertainment? But if the country has to move forward and we have to talk about the upliftment of students, then it is necessary to discuss policy, hard work and opportunities,' Kadam said. He further alleged that Gandhi had 'created confusion across the country regarding the Constitution' during the Lok Sabha elections.
Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav also weighed in, criticising the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event and Congress's record on student welfare. 'For 60 years, the Congress Party has been in power, and students have faced the most difficulties. You may remember that the student movement began in Bihar, and due to the student movement, the government was completely wiped out from power in Bihar and several other states and across the country,' Yadav said. He claimed that under Congress rule, students seeking to be heard 'have to wander from place to place.'
The Broader Context
The 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme was framed by Congress as an outreach initiative for students, with Gandhi speaking on unemployment, examination irregularities, and youth aspirations. The BJP's swift counter-offensive — latching onto the mimicry clip — follows a familiar pattern of converting Congress events into political liabilities. Notably, this is not the first time a light-hearted moment at a Gandhi event has been weaponised in the media cycle. The episode also reflects the competitive framing of student politics ahead of upcoming state-level electoral contests.
Point of View
Congress gifting the clip to critics by sharing it first on its own X account reflects a recurring lack of message discipline. The real casualty is the student agenda itself: in a news cycle now dominated by who laughed at what, the policy deficits Chhatron Ki Goonj was designed to highlight have been buried. Both sides, for different reasons, failed the students the event was meant to serve.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chhatron Ki Goonj mimicry row?
A comedian named Pulkit Mani imitated PM Narendra Modi's mannerisms at Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' student event in Indore on 20 September 2026. Gandhi was seen laughing, and the BJP used the moment to attack Congress, with Kiren Rijiju calling it a 'party of comedians.'
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Congress?
Rijiju shared Congress's own X post of the mimicry clip and wrote: 'Congress Party has become a Party of Comedians & Jokers! They are out forever… RIP.' The post was made on 20 September 2026 in response to the incident at the Indore event.
Who is Pulkit Mani, the comedian who mimicked PM Modi?
Pulkit Mani is an Indian stand-up comedian and social media content creator. He performed a mimicry of PM Modi's characteristic laugh, hand gestures, and greeting style at the Congress student programme in Indore.
What was the Chhatron Ki Goonj programme about?
'Chhatron Ki Goonj' was a student-focused event organised by Congress and addressed by Rahul Gandhi in Indore, centred on issues such as unemployment and examination irregularities. The programme was part of Gandhi's broader student outreach across the country.
How did other BJP leaders react to the mimicry incident?
Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam questioned the use of mimicry at a student welfare event and called for discussions on policy and opportunities instead. Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav alleged that Congress ignored student concerns during its six decades in power at the Centre.
