A controversy has erupted following remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kailash Vijayvargiya regarding Rahul Gandhi's public displays of affection towards his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Vijayvargiya, the Madhya Pradesh Urban Development and Housing Minister, questioned the appropriateness of Rahul Gandhi kissing his sister Priyanka Gandhi in public, suggesting that such behavior reflects a lack of Indian values and is a sign of "foreign influence".

Vijayvargiya made the comments during a BJP function in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh, held in memory of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. He stated, "The Leader of Opposition kisses his younger sister publicly right on a busy Square. I want to ask if any of you has ever kissed your young daughter or sister in front of people? This shows a lack of Indian values. Such acts depict foreign influence". He further added, "In our culture, we do not even drink water at our sister's house. My father used to carry his own water pot whenever he visited his married daughter at her in-laws' village". Vijayvargiya also claimed that Rahul Gandhi had "imported those values" from studying abroad.

The remarks reference an instance during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in 2023 when Rahul Gandhi kissed Priyanka Gandhi on the cheek. Vijayvargiya's comments have been interpreted as a veiled swipe at Rahul Gandhi, who is often photographed hugging or kissing his sister Priyanka at public rallies and events.

The Congress party has strongly condemned Vijayvargiya's statements. Party spokesperson Abhinav Barolia characterized the statements as indicative of Vijayvargiya's mindset, arguing that such rhetoric stemmed from an unwillingness to accept the popularity of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Barolia asserted that Vijayvargiya's comments contributed to a deterioration of political discourse. The Madhya Pradesh Congress, in a statement, said that Vijayvargiya has tarnished the culture of the entire country with his outrageous comment on the sacred relationship between brother and sister and called it proof of the BJP's dirty mindset. State party president Jitu Patwari expressed disapproval, emphasizing the sacredness of brother-sister bonds cherished across India. Patwari accused BJP leaders of frequently disrespecting women over issues like clothing or education.

In response to the controversy, the Congress party has announced plans to demonstrate at Vijayvargiya's official residence in Bhopal, demanding a formal apology for his remarks.

This is not the first time Vijayvargiya has courted controversy with his statements. He has a history of making controversial remarks during public speeches, including one instance where he compared girls wearing makeup and certain types of clothes to 'Shoorpnakaha' (Ravana's sister).

Vijayvargiya has clarified that he was discussing cultural differences between foreign countries and India, emphasizing that all relationships are sacred, but cultural context matters. Vijayvargiya asserted that his comments were taken out of context and stressed that if the full speech had been heard, the question would not have arisen.