Kiren Rijiju Pawan Khera row has intensified after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju hit back at Congress leader Pawan Khera over comments about a swimming video from Arunachal Pradesh. Rijiju questioned whether Khera swims in a “full suit and coat” and warned that he would report the Congress leader’s alleged “indiscipline” to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The exchange has added a fresh layer to the ongoing political friction between leaders of the BJP and Congress.
How the Kiren Rijiju Pawan Khera row began
The dispute started after Rijiju shared a video of himself swimming in a fast-flowing river in Arunachal Pradesh. In the post, the Union minister warned people against entering deep water without knowing how to swim. He said several people had drowned in Arunachal Pradesh’s large and deep rivers.
Rijiju later posted another video explaining that swimming in a strong river current is different from swimming in a pool or calmer water. He said swimmers in such conditions need to keep their heads up and maintain a more upright body position.
Rijiju also described himself as a “natural khiladi” in the region’s rivers. The video soon drew political reactions, including from Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera.
Pawan Khera takes a swipe at Rijiju
Khera linked Rijiju’s swimming video to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the political debate over the latter’s fitness activities. In a post on X, Khera said Rahul Gandhi had “gotten under the BJP’s skin” and mocked Rijiju for allegedly invoking Gandhi while going for a “half-naked swim.”
Khera also made a separate reference to BJP leader Giriraj Singh, commenting on Singh’s remarks about being a 74-year-old “new baby born”. He ended the post by asking Rahul Gandhi what he had done to the BJP leaders.
The remarks turned what had initially been a light-hearted discussion about fitness and swimming into another political exchange between the two sides.
Rijiju responds with sharp warning
Rijiju responded directly to Khera and objected to the description of his swimming as “half-naked”. He questioned whether Khera himself goes swimming wearing a complete suit and coat.
The Union minister also referred to their political experience. Rijiju said Khera was a first-term Rajya Sabha MP nominated by his party, while he had contested eight elections. He argued that this did not give Khera the right to make what he described as “indecent comments”.
Rijiju added that he swims with villagers to inspire people and followers. He also said Rahul Gandhi was not on his mind when he was with people in Arunachal Pradesh. According to Rijiju, comparisons with Gandhi began after Congress supporters commented on his swimming abilities.
“Don’t be abusive needlessly all the time,” Rijiju said while defending his remarks.
Why Himanta Biswa Sarma was brought into the dispute
A notable part of the Kiren Rijiju Pawan Khera row was Rijiju’s reference to Himanta Biswa Sarma. Rijiju warned Khera that he would report his alleged “indiscipline conduct” to the Assam chief minister if he continued discussing “half-naked swimming”.
The reference comes against the backdrop of an earlier confrontation between Khera and Sarma. During the Assam Assembly election period, Khera had made allegations involving Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma. Sarma rejected the allegations as false and malicious. Assam Police subsequently pursued a case linked to Khera’s remarks.
That earlier dispute has given added political context to Rijiju’s latest warning.
Rahul Gandhi remains central to the exchange
The latest Kiren Rijiju Pawan Khera row also reflects the continuing political focus on Rahul Gandhi’s fitness activities. Rijiju and Gandhi have previously exchanged light-hearted remarks about exercise and martial arts.
In December 2025, Rijiju shared a conversation with Gandhi in Parliament involving fitness. Gandhi later referred to the exchange while discussing jiu-jitsu techniques during the Budget session. In June, Gandhi also responded to Rijiju’s birthday wishes by asking when they would hold their jiu-jitsu session.
For now, the latest exchange remains a war of words on social media. Rijiju has defended his swimming video as a way of connecting with villagers and highlighting the challenges of Arunachal Pradesh’s rivers, while Khera has used the episode to take another political swipe at the BJP and Rahul Gandhi’s critics.
The episode shows how even informal social media posts by senior political leaders can quickly become part of a wider political confrontation, particularly when they involve prominent figures such as Rijiju, Khera, Gandhi and Sarma.
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