Opposition’s student outreach event sparks political war over comedy act

Rahul Gandhi’s “Students’ Resonance” gathering in Indore was intended to highlight academic stress, joblessness and exam malpractices affecting India’s youth. Midway through the program, a comic impersonation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke out, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The act ignited a political firestorm. Union Minister Kiran Rijiju posted the clip on X, branding the Congress “the party of jokers” and suggesting it no longer belongs in the parliamentary arena.

BJP representatives across states echoed the sentiment. Bihar’s minister Ram Kripal Yadav condemned the Congress for turning a serious student platform into a circus and accused the party of neglecting youth aspirations despite decades in power.

In response, Congress officials described the mimicry as a harmless attempt to connect with students, emphasizing that the rally also covered policy proposals on skill development and employment generation.

Analysts note that the episode reflects a larger trend where cultural performances become flashpoints in India’s hyper‑polarised political climate. Both parties are now poised to weaponise the incident as they court the crucial youth vote ahead of the next general election.