Rijiju Targets Congress Over Kapil Sibal's Remarks on Rahul Gandhi
Synopsis
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on October 29, 2026, used reported remarks by Kapil Sibal to attack Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party on X, calling out perceived internal contradictions in the opposition in blunt, combative language.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju posted a combative message on X on October 29, 2026 , targeting the Congress party.
He cited remarks reportedly made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal as having 'torn Rahul Gandhi to shreds.' Rijiju referred to Congress members and allies as 'cockroaches' — sharply inflammatory language.
Kapil Sibal formally broke with Congress in 2022 , making his critiques a recurring tool in BJP messaging.
The specific Sibal remarks referenced in the post could not be independently verified as of publication.
Congress had not issued a formal response at the time of publication.
A sharp jab landed in Indian political discourse on Thursday, October 29, 2026, when Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju used a reported public comment by senior advocate and politician Kapil Sibal as ammunition against the Indian National Congress — and its top leader Rahul Gandhi.
Rijiju's post on X mixed Hindi and English to deliver a pointed broadside: 'Kapil Sibal ne toh Rahul Gandhi ki jamkar dhajjiyan ura di hain' — loosely translated as 'Kapil Sibal has completely torn Rahul Gandhi to shreds.' He then added in English: 'Now, Congress Party and Cockroaches will listen to the advice of their legal guru.'
Sibal's Long Shadow Over the Congress
Kapil Sibal is no ordinary critic. A former Congress minister and one of India's foremost legal minds, Sibal parted ways with the party formally in 2022, later aligning with the Samajwadi Party to enter the Rajya Sabha. His willingness to speak candidly about Congress's organisational weaknesses has made him a recurring figure in BJP talking points — precisely because his critique carries institutional credibility that an opposition leader's cannot easily dismiss.
The specific remarks by Sibal that prompted Rijiju's post could not be independently verified, as the post dates to October 2026. However, the framing is consistent with a long-running pattern: whenever a Congress veteran voices frustration publicly, the BJP amplifies it as confirmation of internal collapse.
Rijiju's Rhetorical Playbook
For Rijiju — a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh and a cabinet heavyweight — the post is a calibrated escalation of party messaging. Comparing Congress members and allies to 'cockroaches' is inflammatory language by any standard, and it signals the combative register that BJP social-media strategy has increasingly deployed against the opposition in the run-up to key electoral cycles.
The Congress party had not issued a formal response at the time of publication. Whether the remark draws a parliamentary rebuke or a sharp counter from the opposition's social-media wing is the next beat to watch.
When a party's own veterans become the other side's best material, the wound is self-inflicted — and Rijiju is making sure no one misses it.
Point of View
However, risks overshadowing the political point with its incendiary tone, potentially inviting parliamentary privilege questions. The broader arc here is BJP's sustained effort to frame Congress not as a formidable opposition but as an organisation in structural decline. How Congress navigates the dual pressure of external attacks and insider candour will define its posture heading into the next major electoral contest.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kiren Rijiju post about Congress?
Rijiju posted on X on October 29, 2026, citing reported remarks by Kapil Sibal that were critical of Rahul Gandhi, and used the occasion to attack the Congress party using provocative language including the word 'cockroaches.'
Why did Kapil Sibal leave Congress?
Kapil Sibal formally parted ways with the Congress party in 2022, citing differences, and subsequently aligned with the Samajwadi Party to enter the Rajya Sabha.
What did Kapil Sibal say about Rahul Gandhi?
The specific remarks by Kapil Sibal referenced in Rijiju's post could not be independently verified; the post falls outside established public records from training data.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh currently serving as Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs.
How has BJP used Kapil Sibal's Congress criticism before?
BJP has consistently amplified public statements by Sibal that are critical of Congress or its leadership, using his stature as a former Congress minister and top lawyer to lend weight to its narrative of opposition disarray.
