Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Batman, memes, dogs, philosophy and student protests – Rahul Gandhi’s latest outreach to Gen Z was anything but a conventional political interaction.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Instagram on Thursday night, inviting students and young users to fire away with questions.
They responded with everything from politics and protests to pets and pop culture, prompting Gandhi to switch effortlessly between humour and serious commentary.
advertisement
The quirkiest moment came when a user asked him if he was Batman.
“Let’s just say that no one has ever seen me and Batman in the same room together,” Gandhi replied with a straight face, drawing laughter across social media.
When the conversation turned to the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand, Gandhi struck a more serious note, saying every government should listen to what students have to say. The Congress leader has repeatedly backed student-led movements in recent weeks and has accused the Centre of failing to address concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Asked about his favourite meme from last month’s student protests, Gandhi used the opportunity to take a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I think the videos that came out of the PM house at midnight, those were the best, showing a new panicked prime minister,” he said.
MEET NOORIE, THE UNEXPECTED GUEST
The live session also offered a lighter glimpse into his personal life when he introduced viewers to Noorie, the pet dog of his mother, Sonia Gandhi.
Clarifying that he was not a “dog parent”, Gandhi said, “I think we share spaces with animals, with all living beings. I don’t think we own them… they deserve respect, love and affection.”
Holding Noorie in his lap, he joked that his mother “will be very angry” for putting the dog on camera, before adding with a smile, “Too bad. I’ll deal with that problem when it arises.”
A SURPRISE BJP ANSWER
Another answer that caught attention came when Gandhi was asked to name his favourite BJP politician. Without hesitation, he named former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who joined the BJP after leaving the Congress in 2022.
“I get along with him, he is cool. He is an expert on military history… Hello, uncle Amarinder,” Gandhi said, a remark likely to fuel fresh political speculation in Punjab ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
On philosophy, Gandhi pointed to the diverse traditions that shaped India’s Constitution, naming figures including Gautama Buddha, Guru Nanak Dev, Basavanna, Birsa Munda, Periyar, Mahatma Phule, Narayana Guru, B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
POLITICS MEETS INSTAGRAM
The Instagram interaction comes as political leaders increasingly use social media to connect with younger audiences. Gandhi has recently been posting videos of his interactions with students and parents, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders have also stepped up their digital outreach to Gen Z.
For an hour, however, politics took a back seat to personality, as Gandhi mixed one-liners with policy, turning an Instagram live session into a campaign of relatability.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
