Piyush Goyal says, 'Rahul Gandhi feels threatened by PM Modi's popularity'

Senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal (File pic)

Slamming the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that Rahul feels threatened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's growing popularity among the youth because the LoP in the Lok Sabha used to consider himself a "youth leader" but no longer enjoys the same appeal among them.

Claiming that the BJP continued to enjoy the support of young voters, Goyal said, "Gen Z was always with us."

As per PTI, the youth would continue to back Modi''s vision of making India a developed nation, the Mumbai North Lok Sabha MP said.

Piyush Goyal addresses Modi as the world's most popular leader

He also described Modi as the world''s "most popular leader," saying his engagement with young people and his presence across social media platforms would help accelerate the country''s development.

Goyal while talking to the media on Sunday, said, "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi feels threatened because of the growing popularity of PM Modi and the way he is connecting with the youth. Gandhi used to consider himself a youth leader. It has been proven that he is no longer as popular as PM Modi," as per PTI.

Goyal defends Center's handling of paper leaks

While responding to questions on the youth protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi that later culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister, Goyal defended the Centre's handling of examination paper leaks, asserting the government had enacted stringent legislation under Modi''s leadership.

Slamming the UPA government, Goyal said that the Congress-led government had planned legislation on examination paper leaks in 2010-11 but lacked the courage to introduce it, as per PTI.

Moreover, the NDA under Modi brought such legislation in 2024 and later strengthened it through amendments that provided for stricter punishment and fast-track court trials, Goyal said.

The BJP leader also noted that the opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party, had opposed the legislation in Parliament, as per PTI.

He said, "I can understand their disappointment and frustration as voters are rejecting them again and again. They are losing elections one after another. When the Bill was being discussed, they should have supported it. I condemn the Congress, Samajwadi Party, AAP etc for opposing the Bill," as per PTI.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha last week.

(With inputs from PTI)