AICC general secretary KC Venugopal has cautioned Congress leaders against making public statements that could benefit the BJP politically. His remarks came in response to Shashi Tharoor's comments on Rahul Gandhi's outreach to Gen Z. Venugopal expressed concern over Tharoor's reported observations about Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' program not resonating strongly with young people, as compared to the Cockroach Janata Party protests. Venugopal emphasized the need for caution in making statements that might appease the BJP, stating that such remarks would delight the ruling party. However, he did not believe Tharoor had made his remarks intentionally. Meanwhile, Venugopal strongly defended Rahul Gandhi's student outreach, citing large youth participation at events in Allahabad, Kota, and Dehradun. He accused the Uttar Pradesh government of attempting to disrupt the Allahabad event and criticized them for creating unsanitary conditions along the route. Venugopal also highlighted Rahul Gandhi's consistent support for students facing police action during protests, including those injured by pellet guns and women allegedly assaulted by male police personnel. Tharoor, earlier, had suggested that political parties needed to engage with younger generations more effectively, but clarified later that his remarks were being misconstrued as an attack on the party or its leadership. The incident occurred on August 9, 2026.