A fiery exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi remarked on ‘Hindu violence’ drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders, sparking a heated debate on the floor. Gandhi’s assertion that “those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth” ignited a swift reaction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP MPs, who condemned the statement as insulting to Hindus.
PM Modi intervened, expressing concern over Gandhi’s comments, stating they “hurt Hindu sentiments” and emphasizing that the BJP and RSS do not represent the entire Hindu community. BJP leaders denounced Gandhi’s speech as baseless and accused Congress of using divisive rhetoric for electoral gains.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal labeled Gandhi’s remarks as a sign of Congress’s dwindling confidence, while BJP MP Kangana Ranaut mocked the speech as a “stand-up comedy act,” criticizing Gandhi for allegedly politicizing Hindu symbols.
Responding to the backlash, Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and KC Venugopal defended Rahul Gandhi, asserting that he did not intend to insult Hindus but aimed to differentiate between genuine Hindu values and politically motivated exploitation of Hindu sentiments.
In a scathing rebuttal, BJP national president JP Nadda accused Gandhi of spreading lies and fostering Hindu hatred, claiming that he failed to grasp the electoral mandate of 2024. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized Gandhi for allegedly misleading the public on issues concerning the armed forces.
As tensions escalated, BJP MP Arun Govil called for Gandhi to apologize to Hindus, describing his speech as immature and misleading. The controversy underscores deep-seated political divisions over religious rhetoric and electoral strategies ahead of the upcoming elections.
The clash between BJP and Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks highlights the contentious nature of political discourse in India, particularly concerning religious sentiments and national security issues.