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Published - August 23, 2026 11:41 am IST - Mumbai

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi addresses the gathering during the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' program in Pune on Saturday. | Photo Credit:

BJP Maharashtra vice-president Keshav Upadhye on Sunday (August 23, 2026) termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's student interaction in Pune a "political comedy show" and accused him of making political statements instead of addressing issues concerning students.

Hitting back, Congress national secretary Sachin Sawant said the BJP was rattled by the response to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune on Saturday (August 22), and claimed that the ruling party had lost sleep over his growing appeal among youngsters.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, interacted with students in Pune as part of his party's youth outreach programme.

Mr. Upadhye, however, in a statement, claimed there was a contradiction between the Congress MP's statements and the party's past actions.

The BJP leader also claimed that students were brought in college buses to attend the programme and accused the Congress of turning the event into a political gathering in the name of students.

"Rahul Gandhi's Pune event was yet another political comedy show," he said, claiming that the Congress leader's speech was full of "big statements and familiar allegations" but failed to address the Congress' own record.

Mr. Upadhye questioned the Congress's stand on women's reservation and alleged that the party had opposed the candidature of tribal leader Droupadi Murmu for the post of President of India and the law against triple talaq.

"While searching for Manuwad, the Congress should first look in the mirror," he said.

The Congress was unable to counter the development work of the Narendra Modi government and was therefore trying to raise issues of caste and religion, he claimed.

"Frustration over losing power, anger over electoral defeats and fear of Modi have together resulted in this so-called comedy show by Rahul Gandhi," Mr. Upadhye charged.

While people were "laughing", the Congress was still trying to find reasons for its electoral defeats, he added.

Mr. Sawant hit back, saying the BJP was unsettled by the strong response to Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event and had lost sleep over his rising appeal among the youth.

On Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' proposed interaction with Gen Z members later on Sunday in Nagpur, Sawant alleged that the government had "trampled their hopes, aspirations, dreams and future" and wondered whether the session will have preaching about patriarchal values.

"Perhaps the chief minister will tell them about the importance of Manusmriti, that the patriarchal system is good, and that the RSS and VHP will decide what women should wear, say and how they should behave," the Congress leader charged in a statement.

He also took a swipe at Fadnavis' "Youth Icon" image, saying merely claiming the title does not make one a youth icon.

Mr. Sawant claimed that the BJP had been alarmed by the "unprecedented response" to Mr. Gandhi's interaction with students in Pune.

"Despite shutting down the metro, imposing several restrictions and resorting to hooliganism, a huge number of young women turned up," he stated.

"This has shaken the BJP and it appears that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Fadnavis have lost sleep. But this fear is good," Mr. Sawant said.

Published - August 23, 2026 11:41 am IST

Maharashtra / politics / Rahul Gandhi

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