PM Modi Mimicry Row: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Takes Dig at Rahul Gandhi

A political row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's participation in a mimicry act involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified on Sunday, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis taking a jibe at the Congress leader. Fadnavis said Gandhi should consider leaving politics and pursuing stand-up comedy. He also defended the government's decision to introduce a limited Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on certain higher-value UPI merchant transactions.

The remarks came a day after Gandhi attended the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore, where comedian Pulkit Mani performed a skit mimicking Modi. The performance subsequently triggered criticism from BJP leaders and a broader political exchange over satire and political discourse. Rahul Gandhi Attacks Education System, Recruitment Process at ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in MP’s Indore.

Devendra Fadnavis Mocks Rahul Gandhi Over Mimicry Row

Devendra Fadnavis Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Mimicry

Speaking on Sunday, Fadnavis criticised Gandhi's participation in the act and suggested that he should quit the Congress and become a stand-up comedian.

The Maharashtra chief minister also made a reference to the Congress' political performance while commenting on Gandhi's role in the party. His remarks were in response to questions about the Indore event and the video of the mimicry performance. Rahul Gandhi Mocks PM Modi’s ‘Hug Diplomacy’ With World Leaders (Video).

The BJP has separately criticised the event, with party spokesperson CR Kesavan accusing Gandhi of endorsing what he described as inappropriate remarks about Modi and others. The Congress and its leaders have disputed the BJP's characterisation of the incident, with some opposition leaders describing political satire as part of democratic discourse.

What Happened at the Indore Event

Gandhi attended the student outreach programme in Indore on Saturday. During the event, comedian Pulkit Mani mimicked Modi's speaking style and public mannerisms, including his references to foreign leaders.

Gandhi subsequently commented on the performance and used it to make a political point about the Prime Minister's responsibilities in foreign policy. A video of the interaction circulated widely on social media, prompting the BJP's criticism.

The controversy has since centred on whether the performance constituted political satire or crossed the line into personal mockery. Different political leaders have offered differing views on the episode.

Devendra Fadnavis Defends UPI Merchant Charges

Fadnavis also addressed the separate controversy over the introduction of MDR on certain UPI transactions. He said petrol pump operators and traders should not oppose the charges, arguing that UPI has helped expand businesses and improve transaction transparency. He described the proposed fee as nominal and said digital payments had contributed to reducing cash-based transactions.

The comments came amid reports that some petrol pumps in Mumbai could stop accepting UPI payments above Rs 2,000 from October 15 if the revised MDR framework is not withdrawn.

Government Says Charges Apply Only to Certain Transactions

The government has said the new MDR does not apply to all UPI payments. Under the framework reported earlier this week, person-to-person transactions and UPI payments up to Rs 2,000 remain outside the charge, while a 0.4% MDR has been introduced for specified merchant transactions above that threshold from October 15.

The move ends the long-standing zero-MDR arrangement for the specified category of higher-value merchant transactions. The government has argued that a revenue mechanism is required to support the financial sustainability of the UPI ecosystem.

Congress and Government Differ Over Parliamentary Panel's Role

The UPI issue has also become a political point of contention between the government and the Congress. The government has cited recommendations from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance regarding a tiered MDR framework. Fadnavis also referred to the participation of Congress leaders in the parliamentary process while defending the current policy.

Congress, however, has rejected the suggestion that its MPs endorsed the specific 0.4% MDR announced for transactions above Rs 2,000. Congress MPs have argued that the recent proposal, including its rate and implementation details, was not placed before the committee for approval. The two political controversies — the Indore mimicry episode and the UPI charges — have therefore become part of the broader exchange between the BJP and Congress ahead of upcoming political activity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 20, 2026 07:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).