Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday, 4 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, saying the latter has 'turned into a comedian,' following a controversy sparked at Gandhi's Indore 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event. The remarks came after a comedian allegedly mimicked Prime Minister Narendra Modi while sharing the stage with Gandhi at the Indore gathering.

Dhami's Attack on Gandhi

Referring to Rahul Gandhi by the pointed term 'Yuvraj', Chief Minister Dhami said Gandhi is 'completely unacquainted with India's culture and values,' arguing that this is 'not reflected in his conduct or his upbringing.' Dhami questioned whether anyone should mock the gesture of a Prime Minister offering a chair to an elderly woman.

'He is no longer acting like a leader. He aspires to be a comedian — or rather, he has turned into a comedian on public platforms. He is engaging in such low-level antics and displaying such undignified behaviour,' Dhami said.

NSA Ajit Doval Remarks Trigger Sharp Rebuke

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister was especially pointed in his criticism over Gandhi's comments about National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. At the Indore event, Gandhi had reportedly claimed that NSA Doval 'controls citizens' digital and phone communications and feeds tapped information to the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah.'

Dhami defended Doval, describing him as a 'son of Uttarakhand who brought pride to the entire nation' and who has 'dedicated his entire life to India's security — both internal and external.' He called the language used against Doval 'appalling,' adding: 'I believe that not only the citizens of the country but especially the people of Uttarakhand will never forgive him. Making such comments is extremely hurtful.'

Congress and Remarks Against Bipin Rawat Recalled

Dhami also drew a parallel to a 2017 episode in which Congress leader Sandeep Dixit used an objectionable term akin to 'street thug' against the then Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, who later became India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and who also hailed from Uttarakhand. Dixit had subsequently issued an apology. 'This reveals their true mentality,' Dhami said, referring to Congress.

Dhami Defends Electoral Roll Revision

The Chief Minister also addressed Opposition-led protests across the country demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Dhami defended the exercise, arguing it was necessary to remove fake entries, delete votes of infiltrators, and correct names registered at multiple locations.

'Earlier, elections were influenced through these fake votes. There used to be electoral malpractices and bogus voting,' Dhami said. He questioned why married daughters who have moved away or deceased individuals should continue to appear on electoral rolls. He accused the Opposition of reflexively opposing every institution — the Election Commission, EVMs, district administration, and even the higher judiciary.

Political Context

The row over the Indore event has sharpened the political vocabulary ahead of upcoming state election cycles, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to frame the incident as emblematic of the Congress's 'anti-establishment' culture. The Indian National Congress has not formally responded to Dhami's remarks as of the time of this report. With the Opposition pushing on electoral roll concerns and the ruling alliance counter-attacking on cultural and national security grounds, the exchange signals a hardening of positions on both sides.