'Dear stunt master': Congress takes dig at Kiren Rijiju over Arunachal river post, Rahul Gandhi fitness jibe

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like The war of words between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has taken a new turn, with the Kerala Congress taking a dig at the BJP leader what it described as a “stunt”. The exchange is the latest in a series of good-humoured jibes between the two political rivals over fitness and physical activities, including a conversation in Parliament last year and a jiu-jitsu challenge from Gandhi earlier this year."Dear Stunt Master @KirenRijiju No reel is worth risking your real life. No stunt, selfie or social-media moment is worth putting yourself in danger. Modiji may care only about reels, but you must care about your life. That frog-style dive, however, deserves a wider audience. Please teach it to @AmitShah and the rest of the Cabinet. The nation should not be deprived of such collective talent," it posted on X. Also Read | ‘Mai yahan ka khiladi hun’: Kiren Rijiju hits back at comparison with Rahul Gandhi over fitness Rijiju had shared videos of himself taking a plunge into the gushing waters of a river in Arunachal Pradesh. Drawing a comparison with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said Gandhi may need training for such activities, while for him, it was part of his routine. "Mein yahan ka khiladi hun (I am the player here)," Rijiju said in a post on X on Sunday. Also Read | ‘Should we praise this brutality?’ Rahul Gandhi slams CJP stir remark by Kiren Rijiju The exchange is the latest in a series of good-humoured jibes between the two political rivals over fitness and physical activities, including a conversation in Parliament last year and a jiu-jitsu challenge from Gandhi earlier this year. "Many people are saying that I'm also doing like Rahul Gandhi. Rahul ji may take training for such activities but it's normal routine in my life. I don't take training as these are child's play for me since childhood. My life is full of adventurous (adventures)," Rijiju wrote, while posting a video of himself swimming in a river in Arunachal Pradesh. "Never go to deep water if you do not know swimming. Many people have drowned in the river. The rivers in Arunachal Pradesh are huge and very deep," he wrote. Rijiju also shared another video explaining why swimming in the rivers of Arunachal Pradesh is different from swimming in a pool or calmer waters. "Some people might think swimming in gushing rivers of Arunachal Pradesh is like swimming in pools or rivers like Yamuna. In raging rivers, our head should be up, not down & body should be more upright, not straight as we keep in swimming competition. Mein yahan ka khiladi hun," he said. In December last year, Rijiju posted a video on Instagram showing a conversation with Gandhi in Parliament. "Not talking politics, only fitness. I hope he will promote #FitIndiaMovement," the minister had said. During the conversation, Gandhi reportedly asked Rijiju about his exercise routine and invited him to work out with him. Their discussion also touched on martial arts, with Gandhi suggesting that the two train together, according to a report by ANI. Priyanjali Narayan is a journalist with Hindustan Times based in New Delhi. She has over two years of experience covering national and international affairs, reporting on breaking news, producing in-depth explainers, and writing feature stories. Her work explores the political, social, and cultural dimensions of major events, with a focus on providing clear, nuanced, and accessible journalism for a broad audience.Before joining Hindustan Times, she was part of the India Today newsroom, where she specialised in explanatory journalism. There, she wrote detailed analyses of major domestic and international issues and produced feature stories that included interviews with prominent public figures. The role strengthened her ability to combine speed with depth in a fast-paced news environment.She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in History from the University of Delhi. Her academic training continues to shape her storytelling, grounding her work in historical context and research-driven insight.Outside the newsroom, she enjoys reading personal essays and fiction, and is often planning her next trip, always seeking stories that deepen her understanding of people and places.Read More