Vintage Grandpa show: Congress mocks PM Modi's football with Sikkim children

The Congress on Tuesday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi playing football with children in Sikkim, calling it a “vintage grandpa” spectacle and also took a swipe at the goalkeeper, who appeared to let the Prime Minister score, likening it to the Election Commission.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore, sharing PM Modi’s video on X, wrote, “As always, a delightful performance by Narendra Modi ji — vintage grandpa form on display”.

He continued, “Good to see the kids helping with the goals. Teamwork matters, after all. Special mention to the goalkeeper — truly playing the role of ECI, ensuring the “result” stayed perfectly aligned”.

PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Sikkim, played football with children in Gangtok on Tuesday morning. Calling the session “energising,” he shared visuals of the interaction on social media.

"Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning! Clearly, an energising football session with these youngsters!" the PM said on X.

He also interacted with the children and posed for photographs, with the Lok Bhawan building visible in the background.

Later, the Prime Minister addressed a gathering marking the conclusion of the year-long celebrations of 50 years of Sikkim’s statehood. He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to the ‘Act East’ policy and its resolve to “Act Fast” for the eight northeastern states, which he described as India’s “Ashtalakshmi,” symbolising prosperity and growth.

Highlighting tourism as the backbone of Sikkim’s economy, Modi said the government is focused on improving connectivity to boost tourist inflow.

“The government is committed to strengthening Sikkim’s infrastructure, including building an expressway from West Bengal’s Bagdogra and a ring road in Gangtok to enhance connectivity,” he said during his address at Paljor Stadium.

He further asserted that the Northeast, including Sikkim, is poised to emerge as a hub of future-ready growth and sustainable development, driven by initiatives such as organic agriculture.

- Ends

Tune In