India, Aug. 24 -- The BJP and the Congress traded fierce charges on Sunday over Rahul Gandhi's student interaction in Pune on Saturday, with the ruling party dismissing the event as a "political comedy show" and the Opposition claiming the BJP was rattled by his growing appeal among the youth.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also joined in the controversy, terming the Leader of Opposition's political stance hypocritical for preaching women's empowerment while opposing the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament, and labelling the Congress a directionless party of "show-offs and loudmouths" seeking television relevance.

The verbal exchange follows Gandhi's outreach programme, 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', held on Saturday in Pune, whe...