Introduction
On Monday, July 3, 2024, the Indian Parliament witnessed a heated exchange following a controversial speech by Rahul Gandhi, the newly appointed Leader of the Opposition. The Congress MP's remarks, particularly those concerning Hinduism and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), ignited a fierce backlash from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Parliament | NDTV
Constitutional Assault
Rahul Gandhi began his address by asserting that there is a "full-scale and systematic assault on the idea of India... the Constitution... and on people who resisted the attack on the Constitution." He claimed that numerous opposition leaders had been "personally attacked," with some still incarcerated. This reference was likely directed at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a member of the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc, who is currently held in Delhi's Tihar Jail following his arrest in a liquor policy case.
Religious Symbolism and Critique
Armed with a copy of the Constitution and photos of religious figures, Gandhi launched into a critique of the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He displayed images of Lord Shiva and Guru Nanak Dev, using them to illustrate his points about religious teachings and symbolism. However, this action drew admonishment from Speaker Om Birla, who reminded Gandhi of House rules prohibiting the display of placards.
Gandhi emphasized the 'abhaya mudra' - a hand gesture symbolizing fearlessness and reassurance in various Indian religions. He stated, "The 'abhaya mudra' is the symbol of the Congress... it is the gesture of safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions." Gandhi used this symbolism to contrast what he perceives as the Congress party's values with those of the BJP.
Accusations Against BJP and RSS
In a controversial statement, Gandhi declared, "Our great men spoke about non-violence (but) those who call themselves Hindus talk only about hatred... aap Hindu ho hi nahin (you are not a Hindu)." He further alleged, "If you look at Lord Shiva's image you know Hindus can never spread fear and hatred... but the BJP spreads fear and hatred 24x7." These remarks formed the crux of the ensuing controversy, with BJP leaders interpreting them as an insult to all Hindus.
Criticism of PM Modi
Gandhi also took aim at Prime Minister Modi, criticizing his comments about Mahatma Gandhi. The Congress leader said, "The PM says that (Mahatma) Gandhi is dead and Gandhi was revived by a movie. Can you understand the ignorance?… Another thing I noticed is that it is not just one religion that talks about courage. All religions talk about courage."
Agniveer Scheme Critique
The Congress leader criticized the Agniveer military recruitment scheme, expressing concern over the treatment of soldiers involved. He highlighted a case where an Agniveer who lost his life in a landmine explosion was not recognized as a martyr, using this to question the government's policy.
Prime Minister Modi's Rebuttal
PM Modi rose twice to rebut Gandhi's remarks. His first intervention was brief but pointed: "Calling the entire Hindu society violent is a serious issue..." In his second intervention, Modi declared that the Constitution had taught him to respect the post of the Leader of the Opposition, a statement that drew jeers from his opponents given the opposition's claims that the government is trying to subvert the Constitution.
New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha during ongoing Parliament session, in New Delhi, Monday, July 1, 2024. (PTI Photo | Screenshot from Sansad TV)
Home Minister Amit Shah's Reaction
Amti Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi, stating, "The Leader of Opposition has categorically said that those who call themselves Hindu talk of violence and do violence. He doesn't know that crores of people proudly call themselves Hindu. Connecting violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologise." Shah also invoked historical events like the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to counter-attack the Congress.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Clarification
Rajnath Singh countered Gandhi's statements about the Agniveer scheme, affirming that families of deceased Agniveers receive financial assistance amounting to Rs 1 crore. He stated, "He (Rahul Gandhi) should not try to mislead the House by making wrong statements. Financial assistance of Rs 1 crore is given to the family of the Agniveer who sacrifices his life while protecting our borders or during the war."
BJP President JP Nadda's Criticism
Nadda took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Gandhi's speech. In a series of posts, he accused Gandhi of "blatantly lying" and having a "knack for agitated, flawed logic." Nadda wrote, "First day, worst show! Lies + Hindu hatred = Rahul Gandhi Ji in Parliament. Third-time fail LoP has a knack for agitated, flawed logic. His speech today has shown that neither has he understood the mandate of 2024 (his third successive loss) nor does he have any humility."
Lok Sabha Chaos
The speech and subsequent rebuttals led to significant disruption in the Lok Sabha. The specific trigger for the ruckus was Gandhi's pointed attack on the BJP and the RSS, whom he accused of violence against minorities. This led to heated exchanges between opposition and ruling party members.
Rajya Sabha Disruptions
The upper house also witnessed chaos, with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge clashing with BJP leaders over various issues, including alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance tests and the row over relocation of national leaders' statues within the Parliament complex.
Priyanka Gandhi's Defense
In the aftermath of the controversy, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra defended her brother, stating, "He cannot insult Hindus. He said it very clearly. He talked about the BJP, he talked about BJP leaders."
Conclusion
Rahul Gandhi's fiery speech in the Lok Sabha has ignited a political firestorm, bringing to the fore long-standing tensions between the Congress and the BJP. The incident underscores the deep ideological divisions in Indian politics and the contentious nature of religious identity in the country's political discourse. As the dust settles on this parliamentary showdown, it is clear that the repercussions will continue to shape India's political landscape in the coming months, potentially influencing public opinion and electoral strategies in future contests.
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