Rijiju Calls Congress 'Irresponsible and Pathetic'
Synopsis
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly declared he never imagined Congress would become so 'irresponsible and pathetic,' in a blunt Hindi post on X on 12 August 2026. The statement, from the minister who manages government-opposition relations in Parliament, sharpens the BJP-Congress rivalry ahead of the next parliamentary session.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, publicly called the Congress party 'irresponsible and pathetic' on 12 August 2026 .
The statement was made in Hindi on X and accompanied by two videos .
No specific triggering event was identified in the post itself.
As Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Rijiju is the government's chief interlocutor with opposition parties in both Houses of Parliament.
Public attacks on Congress by senior BJP ministers are a recurring feature of Indian political communication, particularly around parliamentary sessions.
A sharp rebuke from the heart of the ruling establishment landed on Wednesday evening, when Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju declared he had never imagined the Congress party would sink to what he called an 'irresponsible and pathetic' state — words that cut to the bone of India's oldest political rivalry.
Posting on 12 August 2026, Rijiju wrote in Hindi: 'मैंने कभी सपने में भी नहीं सोचा था कि कांग्रेस पार्टी इतनी गैर-जिम्मेदार और दयनीय पार्टी बन जाएगी' — 'I had never even dreamt that the Congress party would become such an irresponsible and pathetic party.' The post was accompanied by two videos, though no specific trigger or event was identified in the statement itself.
The man delivering the verdict
Rijiju is not a peripheral voice in this government. As Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, he is the BJP's chief interlocutor with opposition parties on the floor of both Houses — the person whose job it is to manage, negotiate, and at times confront the Congress across the aisle. When he speaks about the opposition's conduct, it carries institutional weight beyond routine political sparring. A senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju has built a reputation for blunt, direct communication on national platforms. Public criticism of the Congress is a well-worn tool in the BJP's political arsenal, but coming from the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, such language signals frustration that extends into the mechanics of governance itself.BJP versus Congress: a rivalry that never goes quiet
The adversarial dynamic between the Indian National Congress — India's oldest national party — and the BJP-led government has defined the country's political temperature since 2014. Congress has been the principal opposition through successive general elections, and the exchanges between the two formations have only sharpened over the years. Senior ministers publicly targeting the Congress is a recurring pattern, particularly around parliamentary sessions when disputes over procedure, disruptions, and legislative agendas tend to boil over. Whether this latest salvo is connected to a specific parliamentary flashpoint or a broader political moment will become clearer as Congress spokespersons respond. One thing is certain: when the minister responsible for managing Parliament calls the main opposition 'pathetic,' the next session's temperature just went up a notch.Point of View
Going beyond standard policy disagreement into a character indictment of the party as a whole. Coming from the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, whose institutional role requires him to work with the very opposition he is attacking, the statement signals that the government sees little political cost in deepening the adversarial tone. It fits a broader BJP strategy of keeping Congress on the defensive through sustained, high-visibility criticism from cabinet-level voices. Congress's response, and whether this exchange spills into the next parliamentary session, will determine whether this is a routine broadside or the opening of a sharper political confrontation.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Congress?
Rijiju said he had never imagined Congress would become such an 'irresponsible and pathetic' party, posting in Hindi on X on 12 August 2026.
Who is Kiren Rijiju?
Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh and currently serves as India's Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs.
Why did Rijiju criticise Congress?
The post did not specify a particular trigger. No specific event or incident was identified in the statement itself.
What is the BJP-Congress rivalry about?
The Indian National Congress has been the principal opposition to the BJP-led government since 2014 . Disputes over parliamentary conduct, legislation, and governance have kept the two parties in sustained public conflict.
What does the Parliamentary Affairs Minister do?
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister manages the government's legislative agenda, coordinates with opposition parties on floor proceedings, and acts as the chief liaison between the executive and both Houses of Parliament.
