Days after Union Minister Kiren Rijiju posted a video of himself swimming in an Arunachal Pradesh river and challenged Rahul Gandhi to do the identical, the seemingly light-hearted health banter has became a confrontation with Congress MP Pawan Khera.
Khera, not too long ago elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, took a jibe at Rijiju over his swimming apparel, describing him as “half-naked”, earlier than mocking him for invoking the Chief of Opposition in Lok Sabha even whereas taking a swim.
“Think about how badly Rahul Ji has gotten beneath the BJP’s pores and skin. Ye kya haal kar rakha hai aapne inn sab ka Rahul ji? (What have you ever accomplished to them?),” Khera wrote on X.
RIJIJU HITS BACK AT ‘HALF-NAKED’ BARB
Objecting to Khera’s reference to his apparel, Rijiju requested whether or not the Congress chief went swimming in a swimsuit and coat.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister additionally in contrast their political careers. He identified that Khera was a first-term Rajya Sabha MP elected on a Congress ticket, whereas he had contested eight elections.
“That doesn’t provide the proper to make an indecent remark,” Rijiju mentioned, including that he swam with villagers to encourage them and his followers.
Rijiju mentioned Gandhi was not on his thoughts when he was spending time with folks in his house state. He claimed that he invoked Gandhi solely after Congress supporters in contrast their swimming talents.
“I don’t take coaching for actions. I’m a pure khiladi in our mighty rivers. Don’t be abusive needlessly on a regular basis,” he mentioned.
‘WILL REPORT YOU TO HIMANTA’
Rijiju additionally warned Khera that he would report his “indiscipline” to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma if he continued making abusive feedback on social media.
The comment appeared to refer to the bitter confrontation between Khera and Sarma earlier this 12 months.
In April, Assam Police visited Khera’s Delhi residence in reference to a case linked to his allegations in opposition to Sarma and his spouse, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma.
Khera had alleged that she held a number of passports and owned international properties that weren’t declared within the Chief Minister’s election affidavit.
Sarma rejected the allegations as false and malicious, claiming that the Congress had relied on materials circulated by Pakistani social media accounts.
After police didn’t discover Khera at his residence, Sarma mentioned he can be traced even when he hid within the “deepest abyss”.
FITNESS BANTER TURNS POLITICAL
The latest exchange began after Rijiju posted a video of himself swimming in a fast-flowing river in Arunachal Pradesh.
When social media customers in contrast him with Gandhi, who has typically spoken about swimming and martial arts as a part of his health routine, Rijiju mentioned such actions had been a part of his life since childhood.
“Rahul ji could take coaching for such actions, however it’s a standard routine in my life. I don’t take coaching, as these are little one’s play for me since childhood,” he wrote.
Rijiju additionally warned folks in opposition to coming into deep water if they didn’t know the right way to swim. He mentioned swimming in Arunachal Pradesh’s robust river currents required a unique approach from swimming in a pool or calmer waters.
“Mein yahan ka khiladi hun,” he added.
RIJIJU-RAHUL FITNESS BANTER
Rijiju and Gandhi have beforehand exchanged light-hearted feedback about train and martial arts.
In December 2025, Rijiju shared a video of a dialog with Gandhi in Parliament and mentioned they had been discussing health, not politics. Gandhi reportedly requested him about his train routine and invited him to coach collectively.
Gandhi referred to the dialog in the course of the Funds session in February whereas explaining jiu-jitsu strategies and utilizing them as a political analogy.
The alternate continued in June when Rijiju wished Gandhi on his 56th birthday.
“Thanks for the nice and cozy needs, Kiren Rijiju Ji. When are we doing our jiu-jitsu session?” Gandhi responded.
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