‘I’m the player here’: Rijiju responds to Rahul Gandhi comparison with river swim

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has responded to comparisons between his fitness routine and that of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, sharing a video of himself swimming through the fast-flowing waters of a river in Arunachal Pradesh and declaring, “Main yahan ka khiladi hun” — I am the player here.

The BJP leader posted the video on social media on Sunday after users compared his river swim with Gandhi’s well-known interest in fitness, swimming and martial arts. Rijiju said such activities were not something for which he needed special preparation, arguing that adventure had been part of his life since childhood.

Rijiju responds to comparison

In his social-media post, Rijiju said he had noticed people suggesting that he was doing something similar to Gandhi. He responded that while Gandhi might train for such activities, swimming and adventure in Arunachal Pradesh were routine for him. The minister also used the video to caution people against attempting to enter deep water without adequate swimming skills, pointing to the size, depth and strong currents of rivers in Arunachal Pradesh. Rijiju subsequently posted another clip explaining that swimming in a fast-flowing mountain river required a different technique from swimming in a pool or calmer water.

According to him, swimmers in strong currents need to keep their heads higher and their bodies more upright rather than adopting the straighter position commonly used in competitive swimming.

Fitness banter between rivals

The exchange is the latest episode in an unusual fitness-related conversation between Rijiju and Gandhi that has continued despite their parties being fierce political rivals. In December 2025, Rijiju shared a video of a conversation with Gandhi inside Parliament, stressing that their discussion was about fitness rather than politics. During that interaction, Gandhi reportedly asked the minister about his exercise routine and invited him to work out together.

Their conversation also touched upon martial arts, with Gandhi suggesting that the two could train together. Earlier this year, Gandhi challenged Rijiju to a jiu-jitsu session, continuing the friendly rivalry over physical fitness.

Rahul shares fitness routine

Gandhi, 56, recently spoke about his approach to staying fit during an Instagram interaction with students and younger social-media users. The Leader of Opposition said consistency mattered more than following any single exercise programme. His own fitness regimen includes martial arts, running and swimming, while yoga has also become part of his routine.

Gandhi said physical activity remained a priority for him regardless of how demanding his schedule became. Rijiju, meanwhile, has frequently shared photographs and videos of himself taking part in sports and outdoor activities, including badminton and fitness exercises.

Politics takes a lighter turn

The latest exchange provides a relatively light-hearted contrast to the frequent political confrontations between the BJP and Congress inside and outside Parliament. Rijiju’s response sought to distinguish his experience of swimming in Arunachal Pradesh’s turbulent rivers from conventional fitness training, while also continuing the playful competition between the two leaders. For the minister, the comparison with Gandhi ultimately produced a simple response — when it comes to negotiating the rivers of his home state, he considers himself to be on familiar territory.