The BJP has strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, accusing him of using “uncultured and indecent” language and failing
to uphold the dignity of the Leader of Opposition’s office.
Rahul Gandhi made the remarks while speaking at the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention on Thursday. He took a dig at PM Modi’s foreign policy by suggesting that it revolved around hugging foreign leaders and also described the BJP-RSS as a “bunch of jokers” who, according to him, have no understanding of India.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi hit back at Rahul Gandhi and asked him to “grow up”, accusing the Congress leader of insulting the people of India by targeting the Prime Minister.
“Rahul Gandhi, when will you grow up? Running India requires mature leadership, not amateur dramatics. Calling a democratically elected government ‘jokers and clowns’ proves you are out of your depth,” Joshi said.
He further criticised Rahul Gandhi’s political background while defending PM Modi’s position as an elected leader.
“The Prime Minister is an elected leader. Unlike Rahul Gandhi and his family, he did not ascend through a hierarchy, nor did he rise due to family lineage or dynastic politics. The words being used, the level to which one is stooping, reflect sheer stupidity and frustration on Rahul Gandhi’s part. It is this frustration that drives him to use abusive language,” the minister stated.
Joshi added that Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the Prime Minister amounted to an insult to the people of India.
During his speech, the Congress leader also mocked PM Modi’s public embraces with foreign leaders. He demonstrated his point on stage by hugging Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, portraying what he described as the Prime Minister’s understanding of foreign policy.
Rahul Gandhi appeared to suggest that PM Modi reduces diplomacy to symbolic gestures such as embracing foreign leaders. Dikshit subsequently referred to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the exchange, with Gandhi playing along.
Giriraj Singh, Bansuri Swaraj Target Rahul Gandhi
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also criticised Rahul Gandhi, describing him as “mentally frustrated” and urging Sonia Gandhi to “get him help”.
“Rahul Gandhi appears to be mentally frustrated. His conduct has crossed all limits of decency. If Sonia Gandhi does not intervene and ensure that he receives appropriate help, the situation could become serious,” the minister said.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the Congress leader’s remarks did not match the standards expected from the Leader of Opposition.
“The kind of uncultured, obscene, and indecent language used by Rahul Gandhi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is completely contrary to the dignity of a constitutional position like that of the Leader of the Opposition,” she said.
Swaraj said the country requires a Leader of the Opposition who acts as a “constructive opposition” rather than engaging in “cheap rhetoric for social media memes and reels”.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, describing them as a new low in public discourse.
“Vulgar jokes targeting PM Narendra Modi ji and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, with Congress leaders laughing along, are deeply disgraceful. This is a new low in public discourse. Strongly condemn it,” he said in a post on X.
