With his comments against Hinduism in his first address as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi caused a major stir. Speaking before the house, Gandhi charged that the BJP and RSS were fostering hatred and violence, alleging that people identifying as Hindus were involved in these actions constantly. The prime minister Narendra Modi and a number of other senior BJP leaders immediately and forcefully protested this declaration from the Treasury benches.
Gandhi’s comments, according to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, not only offended the Hindu community but also wounded the “soul of Mother India.” Adityanath emphasised that Hinduism is connected with tolerance, charity, and gratitude and requested an apology from the Congress leader. “We are proud that we are Hindus!” In a tweet on X (previously Twitter), Adityanath declared.
Adityanath also questioned Gandhi’s comprehension of Hindu principles and charged him with practicing politics of Muslim appeasement. How will this be understood by the ‘prince’ of the group that prides itself on being ‘accidental Hindus’ and engages in Muslim appeasement politics? Rahul ji, you owe crores of Hindus worldwide an apology! You have wounded not a community today, but Mother India’s soul,” he said.
Gandhi highlighted the idea of fearlessness in their teachings by referencing religious leaders such Lord Shiva, the Prophet Muhammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, and Lord Mahavir in his address. Following his comments, there was a huge outcry, with Prime Minister Modi claiming that it is a severe problem to term the entire Hindu population violent. Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated these remarks, calling for Gandhi to issue an apology and emphasizing how inappropriate it is to associate violence with any religion.
Gandhi’s remarks were also denounced by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who said that such language is offensive and encourages enmity against different religions. Saini underlined that disparaging a certain religion as violent from the hallowed platform of Parliament diminishes that religion’s honor and is contrary to democratic ideals.
As BJP leaders accused Gandhi of deceiving the House and defaming the majority Hindu community, the controversy grew even more heated. While the Congress defended Gandhi’s remarks and chastised the ruling party for its attitude, the BJP staged a press conference to condemn his words.
Gandhi, according to Adityanath, made false claims in an attempt to malign Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya. The Congress leader’s remarks were intended to harm the state’s reputation. In contrast to what he called the Congress’s past negligence, he emphasized that the current government has been working to restore Ayodhya’s glory and draw attention from around the world.
This episode highlights the growing political hostilities between the Congress and the BJP, as the two parties sharply defend their respective stances and trade accusations. Deep rifts and a contentious environment characterize Indian politics, as evidenced by the fallout from Gandhi’s speech and the political debate that followed.
