Rijiju taunts Rahul Gandhi over Prayagraj event, says should have gone to Ranchi

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his student outreach event in Prayagraj, suggesting the former Congress president would have been better off visiting Ranchi instead.

"Should have gone to Ranchi," Rijiju said, in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi's recent political engagements and the ongoing political tussle between the BJP and the Congress in Jharkhand. The remark came shortly after Gandhi addressed a gathering of students at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Prayagraj, where he spoke about economic disparity and the need to overhaul the existing system.

Gandhi's pitch to students

At the event, Gandhi told students that the current system is corrupt and needs to be replaced with one rooted in love and affection. He urged the younger generation to recognise their potential, describing India's youth as having "unmatched potential" that remains untapped due to systemic failures.

His address carried a sharp critique of the BJP and the RSS, with Gandhi asserting that the country's resources are being controlled by a select few. "Data is yours, pain is yours, but wealth is theirs," he said, targeting the ruling dispensation over rising inequality and corporate influence.

'Dard, data, daulat' message

Gandhi's speech to the Gen Z audience was built around what he called the three pillars of the current crisis — "dard" (pain), "data" (information), and "daulat" (wealth). He argued that while the common citizen bears the pain and generates the data, the wealth continues to accumulate in the hands of a privileged few.

The Congress leader's remarks were aimed at resonating with young voters, many of whom are grappling with unemployment and rising costs. He framed the upcoming elections as a choice between continuing with the existing structure or building a more equitable society.

The BJP was quick to counter, with Rijiju's jibe underscoring the party's strategy of dismissing Gandhi's outreach as misplaced. The union minister's comment also hinted at the political significance of Jharkhand, where the Congress and its allies are locked in a tight contest with the BJP.

Political context

Prayagraj, a city in Uttar Pradesh, has been a focal point for political rallies and religious events, but the BJP's response suggests it views Gandhi's student-focused campaign as a distraction from pressing regional issues. Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has been in the news for tribal welfare and land rights disputes, areas where Gandhi has previously campaigned.

Political observers note that Rijiju's remark is part of a broader BJP effort to paint Gandhi as out of touch with ground realities. The Congress, however, has been trying to position Gandhi as a voice for the youth and the marginalised, with events like 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' aimed at building a narrative of generational change.

Neither Gandhi nor the Congress has yet responded to Rijiju's comment. The exchange highlights the escalating war of words between the two parties as they gear up for assembly elections in several states later this year.

As the political season intensifies, all eyes will be on how Gandhi's message — and the BJP's counterattacks — play with young voters in the Hindi heartland and beyond.