Rahul Gandhi is a rocket that never takes off: UP CM Yogi mocks Congress leader

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, comparing him to a Diwali rocket that fails to take off despite repeated attempts. Addressing an NDA rally in Gorakhpur, he also targeted Akhilesh Yadav, saying democracy was about change through elections, not revenge.How many times will Congress launch Rahul?: Yogi's rocket jibe Gorakhpur,Nov 4, 2026 15:49 ISTUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday likened Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to a cracker rocket that failed to take off despite repeated launch attempts, taking a swipe at the Congress for trying to project Gandhi as a national political leader.Addressing an NDA rally during the 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save democracy, remove anarchy) march in Gorakhpur, the chief minister said the Congress had made several attempts to launch Gandhi politically but had failed to establish him as a successful leader."Sometimes I wonder how many times the Congress will launch Rahul Gandhi. During Diwali, you see people setting off rockets. Some rockets do not take off even after the fuse is lit. People keep looking towards the sky, but the rocket remains where it is and only produces smoke before going out. Rahul Gandhi is in the same situation," he said.Listing the Congress's repeated attempts to launch Gandhi, Adityanath said he became a Lok Sabha member in 2004, was appointed general secretary in 2007, was elevated to party vice-president in 2013, and was made Congress president in 2017. He pointed out that Gandhi lost the Amethi Lok Sabha election in 2019, and the Congress subsequently organised the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Nyay Yatra and Adhikar Yatra in attempts to project him politically."Rahul Gandhi is now 56 years old, but he is still being presented as a young leader. This rocket is never going to take off," the chief minister said. Adityanath also targeted Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over his reported remark that the next generation would avenge every lathi blow and injury. The chief minister said democracy was not about revenge but about change brought about by the people through elections."In a democracy, there is no revenge; people bring change," he said, citing the electoral changes in the country in 2014 and Uttar Pradesh in 2017.Adityanath addressed the rally in the presence of BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary, and leaders of NDA constituents.- Ends