Modi Mimicry Row Forces Pulkit Mani to Cancel Uttar Pradesh Comedy Shows Following Threats After Rahul Gandhi Event
Stand-up comedian and digital satirist Pulkit Mani has cancelled his upcoming live performance tour across Uttar Pradesh after facing severe backlash and personal intimidation. The cancellation affects scheduled ticketed performances across three major cities, including Noida, Lucknow, and Kanpur. The sudden disruption comes in the wake of a political firestorm that erupted when the comedian shared a stage with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and performed an impersonation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The controversy originated during an outreach programme titled Chhatron Ki Goonj, organized in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. During the youth-focused event, Mani walked onto the stage to join Rahul Gandhi and performed a short comedic skit. In the routine, the comic mimicked the speaking mannerisms of Prime Minister Modi, referencing his interactions with foreign leaders and repeating the phrase my friend while hugging the Congress leader. While the comedian avoided naming the head of state directly, Gandhi hugged him and openly asked how Modi was doing, leading to loud applause from the assembled student crowd.
Video clips of the performance were quickly shared across digital platforms by political organizers and social media users, turning the comedy bit into a national debate. Within hours, the artist announced that his performance in Noida was called off due to unforeseen circumstances. A short time later, Mani posted a follow-up statement across his social accounts confirming that his scheduled appearances in Lucknow and Kanpur had also been scrapped, pointing out that continuous threats from aggressive political activists made it impossible to host the events safely.
The performance drew sharp condemnation from senior leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal criticized the stage act, calling it an attempt to drag the name of the Prime Minister into cheap political theatre. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of turning into a gathering of clowns rather than addressing serious public issues. Furthermore, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticized the performance, stating that mocking acts of respect toward women and mothers was an insult to national culture.
In response, leaders from the Congress party strongly defended the comedian and the event. Party spokespersons asserted that political mimicry and satire are essential components of a healthy democratic society and pointed out that leaders in power should not be thin-skinned about humour. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the interaction was aimed at understanding student struggles and addressing educational challenges, arguing that the reaction from ruling party leaders shows discomfort with fearless youth questioning authority.
Mani, who has been performing stand-up comedy professionally since 2021, has built a large digital following through political commentary and observational skits. While satire has helped him gain hundreds of thousands of followers on digital platforms, this is not the first time his performances have met official pushback. Earlier in the year, legal notices from authorities led to restrictions on some of his parody videos online, highlighting the growing friction between digital creators and political establishments.
The cancellation of live cultural events due to threats from fringe groups has once again sparked debate among artists and civil rights groups. Free expression advocates expressed worry that performers are being forced off stage without police protection, leaving venue managers and artists vulnerable to intimidation. With his tour across Uttar Pradesh shut down, the episode highlights the increasingly volatile space where political satire, social media outrage, and live comedy meet in contemporary public life.