Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over a mimicry act involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore, alleging that a gesture of courtesy towards an elderly woman had been turned into an occasion for political mockery.
The controversy followed a performance by comedian Pulkit Mani at the student-focused programme, where he mimicked Modi’s mannerisms and style of speaking. The performance also referred to a recent incident involving an elderly woman at a public programme attended by the Prime Minister, during which Modi was seen ensuring that a chair was provided to her.
Reacting to the episode, Majhi said Gandhi’s politics had reached a stage where even “an act of respect towards an elderly woman” was being made a subject of mockery.
“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji saw an elderly woman standing in the crowd, paused his speech and ensured she was given a chair. That is sanskar. That is dignity. That is respect for the people,” Majhi said in a post on X.
The Odisha Chief Minister alleged that the gesture had been mocked during the performance. “Rahul Gandhi should remember, when you mock an act of respect, you do not diminish the person showing it. You only reveal your own sanskar when you choose to mock an act of respect,” he said.
During the performance, Mani also imitated Modi’s characteristic mannerisms and his style of interaction with foreign leaders. References were made to the Prime Minister’s public interactions, including the incident involving the elderly woman.
The ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme was organised as a student and youth-focused interaction. Gandhi raised issues concerning education, employment and examination-related concerns, and criticised what he described as a system that discourages young people from questioning those in authority.
