NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday triggered a controversy as he said the grand old party was “fighting the BJP, RSS and the Indian state itself”, a remark the BJP alleged came straight out of the George Soros playbook and was aimed at “breaking the country and dividing society”.
Rahul made the comment during the inauguration of the new Congress office at Kotla Road here. “We aren’t fighting a fair fight. If you believe we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP… a political organisation called the RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, RSS and the Indian state itself,” said Rahul.
Health Minister and BJP president JP Nadda was quick to attack Rahul, saying “he had spoken what the nation already knew”. “The Congress’ ugly truth has been exposed by its own leader,” he said. Nadda said it was “not a secret that Rahul and his ecosystem were closely linked to urban Naxals and the deep state that wanted to defame, demean and discredit India”. “Hidden no more…. I compliment Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows that he is fighting the Indian state!” he said, alleging that the Congress had a history of “encouraging forces wanting to weaken India”.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also slammed Rahul. “The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who was sworn in by taking oath on the Constitution, is now saying ‘we are fighting the Indian state itself’. So, Rahul Gandhi, what for are you carrying a copy of the Constitution in your hands?” she asked.
Rahul earlier said for thousands of years, a fight had been going on in India between an ideology represented by the Congress and the counter-ideology of the RSS. He also accused RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of treason even as the BJP hit back saying the “Congress had been sympathising with anti-nationals”.
The Congress MP alleged that Bhagwat should be tried for treason for his statement yesterday that “India became independent in the true sense of the term only when the Ram Temple at Ayodhya was built last year”. He slammed Bhagwat saying he was “belittling” the Independence gained from the British in 1947 and the Constitution adopted in 1950.
“What he (Bhagwat) said yesterday was treason because he is stating the Constitution is invalid, the fight against the British was invalid and he has the audacity to say this publicly. In any other country, he would have been arrested and tried. To say India did not get Independence in 1947 is an insult to every Indian. It’s time we stop listening to this nonsense that these people think they can just keep parroting out,” said Rahul.
The five-storey building, inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi today, has been named after former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, Congress Working Committee members and invitees, PCC presidents and CLP leaders, former Congress Chief Ministers, MPs and other dignitaries were present during the function.
Rahul alleged that Bhagwat should be tried for treason for his statement that “India became independent in the true sense of the term only when the Ram Temple at Ayodhya was built last year”. He accused Bhagwat of “belittling” the Independence gained from the British in 1947 and the Constitution adopted in 1950.