# Comedian cancels three shows after PM Modi mimicry row with Rahul Gandhi

2026-09-21T10:16:50+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani has cancelled his upcoming shows in Noida, Lucknow and Kanpur after receiving "repeated threats from goon activists", he said on Instagram on Sunday. The cancellations follow a political row over his mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' student event in Indore on September 19. BJP leaders including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Piyush Goyal criticised the act as disrespectful, especially a reference to Modi addressing an elderly woman at a rally. Congress leaders rejected the allegations, saying Modi's mother was not mocked and the performance was humour. The 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme focused on student issues, with Gandhi alleging a "system" run by a few powerful people was harming education.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three outlets report the same facts: the mimicry, the backlash, and the show cancellations. The Times of India and The Hindu give equal space to BJP criticism and Congress defence, though The Hindu adds context by noting PM Modi's 2019 jibe at Rahul Gandhi. Siasat.com leads with the comedian's own statement and includes his video message, giving him a direct voice the others do not. The uniform framing is neutral reporting across all three, with no outlet editorialising or adopting a stance. The concrete next step is whether Mani reschedules the cancelled shows or the controversy widens to affect his other bookings.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/repeated-threats-comedian-pulkit-mani-cancels-noida-lucknow-kanpur-shows-amid-rahul-gandhi-event-mimicry-row/articleshow/134380051.cms>
  Leads with BJP criticism but gives Congress defence equal space, neutral tone throughout
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/madhya-pradesh/bjp-leaders-slam-mimicry-of-pm-at-rahul-gandhis-student-event/article71488585.ece>
  Reports BJP reaction and adds context of PM Modi's 2019 jibe, no editorial slant
- siasat.com (neutral report) <https://www.siasat.com/comedians-shows-cancelled-amid-row-over-pm-mimicry-with-rahul-3545785/>
  Leads with comedian's own announcement and video, purely factual news reporting

Tags: BJP, Madhya Pradesh, Narendra Modi, Noida, Pulkit Mani, Rahul Gandhi
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