Rahul Gandhi lightened the mood at Congress headquarters with a playful scolding of veteran leader Digvijay Singh, teasing him over a controversial social media post that praised the RSS and BJP's organizational strength. The banter unfolded during the party's Foundation Day event at Indira Bhavan, turning heads just a day after Singh's remarks ignited a fresh debate on internal reforms and ideological boundaries.

It all started when Digvijay Singh, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, posted a vintage black-and-white image showing a young Narendra Modi humbly seated next to BJP stalwart LK Advani in his RSS days. In the caption, Singh marveled at the "power of organization" that propelled Modi from grassroots volunteer to Prime Minister, urging Congress to take notes on discipline and cadre-building while closing with "Jai Siya Ram." He quickly clarified that he opposes RSS ideology but admires their structure, a comment that echoed his recent letter to Rahul pushing for party overhaul amid repeated electoral losses.

The next day, as Rahul shook hands with Singh over tea amid the festivities, he grinned and quipped in Hindi, "Kal aapne badmashi kar di—you were up to mischief yesterday." Laughter broke out around them, including from Sonia Gandhi standing nearby, with the viral video clip capturing the folksy moment that diffused potential tensions and showcased Rahul's knack for blending sarcasm with solidarity.

Congress quickly pushed back on any perceived softening toward rivals, with spokesperson Pawan Khera slamming the need for lessons from "Godse's organization" in a pointed ideological retort. BJP leaders, however, pounced on the episode, with figures like Sudhanshu Trivedi hailing it as proof of "open defiance" against Rahul's leadership and deepening infighting. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge sidestepped the drama by reaffirming Congress's unyielding commitment to secularism and the rights of the marginalized, framing the party as united despite its power struggles.

This exchange lays bare Congress's persistent challenge: how to build a robust grassroots machine like the BJP's RSS-backed model without compromising its core values. As the party eyes a revival ahead of future polls, such humanizing moments could help rally workers and signal that critiques are heard, even if wrapped in humor.