“Aap Hindu ho hi nahi”: Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi government in the Lok Sabha

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticises Modi’s Hindu stance, the Agniveer programme and the misuse of agencies like the ED in the Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session in New Delhi, Monday, July 1, 2024. (PTI Photo | Screenshot by Sansad TV)

Vasudha Mukherjee New Delhi

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has lashed out at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, accusing it of undermining India’s core values. Addressing Parliament on Monday, Gandhi highlighted various issues ranging from religious symbolism to the treatment of soldiers under the Agniveer scheme. He called out our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stated that ideologically, he is not a Hindu at all.

Abhayamudra and religious tolerance

Gandhi invoked the symbol “Abhay Mudra,” a gesture of fearlessness and confidence found in many Indian religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Buddhism.

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“The Abhay Mudra is the symbol of the Congress,” he explained. “It dispels fear and grants divine protection and bliss.” He contrasted this with what he saw as the ruling party’s emphasis on violence and hatred, thereby questioning its claim to a Hindu identity.

“Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You are not a Hindu),” he claimed, questioning their conformity to the true values of Hinduism, which he described as non-violence and truth.

“All our great men have talked about non-violence and overcoming fear… But those who call themselves Hindus only talk about violence, hatred and untruth,” he said.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi for his statements linking Hinduism with violence.

“The opposition leader has categorically stated that those who call themselves Hindus talk of violence and commit violence. He does not know that millions of people proudly call themselves Hindus. Linking violence to any religion is wrong. He should apologise,” Shah said.

Rahul Gandhi on Prime Minister Modi and Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Modi’s comments on Mahatma Gandhi and accused the Prime Minister of ignorance for claiming that Gandhi’s importance had been revived through a film.

The Congress leader said, “The Prime Minister says (Mahatma) Gandhi is dead and Gandhi has been revived through a film. Can you understand this ignorance? … Another thing that struck me is that not just one religion talks about courage. All religions talk about courage.”

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s allegation, Prime Minister Modi, who was present in the Lok Sabha Parliament, said: “To label the entire Hindu community as violent is a very serious matter.”

Large-scale attack on the idea of India: Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi accused the government of a “systematic attack” on India’s constitutional values and the people who defend them. He claimed that many politicians who opposed this attack had been imprisoned and that he himself had been targeted by the government.

“There was a systematic and comprehensive attack on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who opposed the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the politicians are still in jail,” he said.

“Anyone who opposed the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression against the poor, Dalits and minorities, was crushed. I was attacked on the orders of the Indian government, on the orders of the Indian Prime Minister… The most pleasant part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by the law enforcement agency,” Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi on the Agniveer programme

Referring to the Agniveer scheme for recruiting soldiers, Gandhi expressed his disapproval of the treatment meted out to the soldiers under this scheme. He cited the case of an Agniveer who was killed in a landmine explosion but was not honoured as a martyr.

“An Agniveer lost his life in a landmine explosion, but he is not called a ‘martyr’… ‘Agniveer’ is a worker who exploits and throws away everything,” he said, criticising the temporary nature of the positions and the perceived lack of respect for the sacrifices of these soldiers.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refuted Gandhi’s claims and stressed that financial assistance of Rs 1 crore would be provided to the families of Agniveers who died in the line of duty.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) should not try to mislead Parliament by making false statements. The family of Agniveer, who sacrifices his life in protecting our borders or in war, will be given financial assistance of Rs 1 crore,” the defence minister said.

This heated exchange occurred on the same day that the government enacted three new penal laws in the country. Opposition parties, including Congress, criticised this “hasty” implementation and demanded that the government take more time to review the laws.

(With agency contributions)