Congress Rajya Sabha MP and Gujarat In-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, mounted a strong defence of comedian Pulkit Mani's mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rahul Gandhi's student outreach event in Indore, asserting that India is 'neither North Korea nor China' and that free expression is a cornerstone of its democracy. Surjewala's remarks came from Ahmedabad during a Gujarat visit, as a political row over the performance escalated between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

What Surjewala Said

'In India, we have always accepted light hearted comments as an essential ingredient of our democratic setup. We are neither North Korea nor are we China where there is a ban on expression of opinion,' Surjewala said. He further drew on the legacy of India's first Prime Minister, the late Jawaharlal Nehru, arguing that humour and satire have deep democratic roots in the country.

'If you remember Pandit ji, our first Prime Minister used to write articles by different names against himself so that people are able to question and criticise him either through humour or through satire or through even pointed questions,' he added. The invocation of Nehru was a deliberate rhetorical move, framing the BJP's objections as historically anomalous.

The Indore Incident That Sparked the Row

The controversy originated at the fifth edition of Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme, held in Indore on 19 September, themed around 'system versus students'. Comedian Pulkit Mani performed a mimicry of PM Modi's mannerisms and speaking style, including references to the Prime Minister's interactions with foreign leaders. Rahul Gandhi was seen laughing during the performance.

Previous editions of the programme had been held in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj, and Pune. The Indore edition focused on education system failures, paper leaks, scholarship access, school closures, and the rising cost of education.

BJP Hits Back

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was among the first BJP leaders to respond, calling Congress a 'party of comedians and jokers'. Other BJP leaders demanded a public apology from Rahul Gandhi over the performance, framing it as disrespectful to the Prime Minister's office.

The BJP's reaction drew immediate pushback from the Congress camp, which accused the ruling party of attempting to deflect from substantive issues raised at the event.

Congress Shifts Focus to Education and Youth Issues

Surjewala sought to redirect the national conversation toward the policy questions that Rahul Gandhi raised at the Indore programme. 'The issue is a larger one. The issue is why has the education system crumbled that it no longer caters to the aspirations and hopes of the common youth?' he said.

He cited the 'paper leak mafia', prohibitive education costs, and rising youth unemployment as the real subjects of debate. 'Why is paper leak mafia instead of meritocracy ruling the roost? Why is education so expensive that it is beyond the means of a common person's child?' he added. Surjewala dismissed the BJP's criticism as an attempt to raise 'non-issues', saying: 'I reject them with the contempt it deserves.'

What This Signals Going Forward

The episode reflects a broader pattern in Indian politics where opposition outreach programmes increasingly combine popular culture — comedy, performance, youth idioms — with policy messaging. The BJP's sharp reaction suggests the mimicry landed with political impact beyond mere entertainment. With Rahul Gandhi continuing to hold student-focused events across states, further friction over tone and form — as distinct from substance — appears likely.