India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Rahul Gandhi is back to square one with nailing his own toe after slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a national stage at his “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme in Indore.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ youth event in Indore faced controversy after a viral stage performance imitating PM Modi drew criticism and shifted focus from student issues to debates on political satire, prompting objections from the BJP.
Congress shared a video on X showing Rahul Gandhi on stage while another participant appears to imitate Modi and make references to his interactions with foreign leaders. The clip quickly spread across social media, triggering criticism from BJP supporters and other users.
The controversy comes at a politically significant time, with Gandhi using the Indore programme to engage with students and raise issues concerning education, jobs and youth.
Stage Performance At Student Event Triggers Debate
Now the performance is the center of debate in relation to the social media discussions about the event. Critics asked whether it was necessary to make this joke in the context of the event aimed at the students.
My friend!! Great Harassment!! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/PqetUPxUWp
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 19, 2026
There were some criticisms of Gandhi for his presence in the stage during this performance. Some users considered the performance to be inappropriate as political views should not be mocked.
It is impossible to say from the video how Gandhi intended to act and whether he agreed with this performance. The main point is his presence in the stage during this performance.
The BJP has criticized the format of the whole programme, including entertainment and dancing.
Rahul Gandhi’s Earlier ‘Hugging’ Remark Had Also Sparked Row
Now the performance is the center of debate in relation to the social media discussions about the event. Critics asked whether it was necessary to make this joke in the context of the event aimed at the students.
There were some criticisms of Gandhi for his presence in the stage during this performance. Some users considered the performance to be inappropriate as political views should not be mocked.
It is impossible to say from the video how Gandhi intended to act and whether he agreed with this performance. The main point is his presence in the stage during this performance.
The BJP has criticized the format of the whole programme, including entertainment and dancing.
‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ Was Meant To Focus On Youth Issues
The Indore meeting has been arranged as a part of Gandhi’s efforts to reach out to the youth. In advance of the meeting, the leaders of Congress claimed that the program will address matters related to education, employment, and concerns of youth.
Gandhi used the opportunity to condemn a ‘system’ which, as per his claims, discourages students from asking questions. Apart from condemning the system of education, he further accused politicians and corporate world of trying to influence the prospects of young Indians.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, in the past, had revealed that about 1.5 lakh students had registered for the program.
The stage act has, nevertheless, moved the discussion online more on the lines of political encounter between Modi and Gandhi.
Timing Draws Attention After DUSU Results
The controversy also emerged on the same day that the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election results were announced.
The results saw ABVP win three of the four central-panel positions – president, secretary and joint secretary – while independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen won the vice-president’s post. Congress-backed NSUI failed to win any of the four central positions.
The timing has prompted political commentary on social media, although the DUSU result and the Indore stage performance are separate developments and should not automatically be treated as connected.
For Congress, the DUSU outcome is particularly notable because Shokeen had earlier sought an NSUI ticket before contesting independently. His victory came alongside ABVP’s three-post win.
A Fresh Flashpoint In The Modi-Gandhi Political Battle
The Indore incident adds another episode to the continuing political exchanges between Gandhi and the BJP over Modi’s public image, foreign policy and the role of political satire.
For the Congress, the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme is intended to place student concerns at the centre of the political conversation. But the viral stage video has instead created a new debate over political humour, public conduct and the limits of satire involving constitutional office-holders.
As the video continues to circulate, the central question is not only what was said on stage, but whether such political performances help keep the focus on the student issues the event was designed to highlight.
