Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Kiren Rijiju Teases Rahul Gandhi Over Arunachal River Swimming
Kiren Rijiju and Rahul Gandhi are political rivals who sometimes joke about fitness.
Rijiju posted videos of himself entering fast-moving river water in Arunachal Pradesh.
He said these adventurous activities are normal for him.
He joked that Rahul Gandhi might need training before trying the same thing.
Rijiju also warned that people who cannot swim should not enter deep rivers.
He explained that swimming in rough rivers is different from swimming in a pool.
Gandhi has said that he enjoys swimming, running and martial arts.
He has also told people that staying fit requires being consistent over time.
Kiren Rijiju said river activities are routine for him and “child’s play” since childhood.
Rijiju suggested Rahul Gandhi may need training before attempting a similar swim in Arunachal Pradesh.
He warned that the region’s deep, fast-flowing rivers are dangerous for inexperienced swimmers.
Rijiju explained that turbulent rivers require swimmers to keep their heads up and bodies more upright than in competitive swimming.
The exchange follows earlier fitness conversations between Rijiju and Gandhi involving workouts, swimming, running and martial arts.
- Who
- Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- Rijiju made playful remarks about Gandhi’s fitness and suggested he might need training before swimming in Arunachal Pradesh’s fast-flowing rivers.
- When
- The remarks and videos were shared on August 23, 2026; earlier exchanges took place in December and February.
- Where
- The swimming videos were recorded in the rivers of Arunachal Pradesh, India, while an earlier fitness conversation took place in Parliament.
- Why
- Rijiju was responding to comparisons between his fitness activities and Gandhi’s publicly discussed exercise routine.
Rijiju’s Perspective
Gandhi’s Fitness Perspective
Experience with adventurous activities
Rijiju’s Perspective
Rijiju said river activities are part of his normal life and have been “child’s play” for him since childhood.
Gandhi’s Fitness Perspective
Gandhi has publicly discussed fitness activities including swimming, running and martial arts, but the articles do not report him responding directly to Rijiju’s latest remarks.
Training and fitness
Rijiju’s Perspective
Rijiju suggested Gandhi may need training for activities in turbulent Arunachal rivers.
Gandhi’s Fitness Perspective
Gandhi has said that fitness depends less on one specific routine than on persistence and continuing an activity consistently.
River safety
Rijiju’s Perspective
Rijiju stressed that deep, fast-flowing rivers are unlike pools or calmer waters and warned inexperienced swimmers not to enter them.
Gandhi’s Fitness Perspective
The articles do not provide a separate response from Gandhi about the safety warning or river swimming.
- Main speaker
- Kiren Rijiju, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister
- Person referenced
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Location
- Arunachal Pradesh, India
- Activity
- Swimming or taking a plunge in fast-flowing river water
- Safety warning
- Rijiju warned that people who do not know how to swim should avoid deep rivers because people have drowned there.
- Rijiju’s explanation
- He said raging rivers require keeping the head up and the body more upright than in pool or competitive swimming.
- Gandhi’s routine
- Gandhi has described his activities as including martial arts, swimming and running, and has emphasized consistency in fitness.
