BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi for Paying Tribute to Indira Gandhi While Wearing Shoes

The BJP on Tuesday took a swipe at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for paying tribute to his grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while wearing shoes—a gesture the party labelled as disrespectful and out of step with Indian cultural values.

On social media videos circulating show Rahul Gandhi walking up to a framed photograph of Indira Gandhi and placing flowers while still wearing his shoes. The visuals sparked criticism, with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav calling the act insensitive.

“He is the Leader of Opposition and has every right to come here. But offering tribute to his Dadi ji with shoes on? That goes against our sanskar (values). He should have been more mindful,” Yadav told news agency PTI.

Rahul Gandhi was in Bhopal on a one-day visit to launch the Congress’ Sangathan Srujan Abhiyan (Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign), aimed at reviving the party's grassroots structure in the run-up to the 2028 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

Before kicking off the campaign, Gandhi chaired a key meeting of the Congress Political Affairs Committee at Indira Bhawan. The meeting was attended by senior party leaders, including Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, Jitu Patwari, and K.C. Venugopal.

While the state Congress unit did not directly respond to the BJP’s criticism, party leaders remained focused on the new campaign, which is seen as a much-needed attempt to re-energise cadres after a poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP swept all 29 parliamentary seats in Madhya Pradesh, including Chhindwara—once a Congress stronghold.

The Congress, which briefly formed the government in Madhya Pradesh from 2018 to 2020, has largely remained out of power in the state over the past two decades. The rejuvenation campaign is being viewed as an early step to rebuild momentum ahead of the next electoral battle in 2028.