Gandhi accused the BJP and PM Modi of fostering a climate of fear by employing government agencies to exert pressure on small businesses.
In a recent speech in Virginia, Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP and RSS, stating, “Darr Nahi Lagta Ab” (“I’m no longer afraid”). His comments highlight ongoing political tensions and his stance against these organizations.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in the US, continued his criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During an Indian diaspora event in Herndon, Virginia, on Monday, Gandhi asserted that the fear of PM Modi among the public has dissipated following the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
Gandhi accused the BJP and PM Modi of fostering a climate of fear by using government agencies to exert pressure on small businesses. However, he claimed that this fear “vanished within seconds” once the election results were announced.
“Something has shifted since the elections. Some people remarked, ‘There’s no more fear now; it’s gone.’ It’s striking how the BJP and PM Modi generated so much fear and applied pressure on small businesses through various agencies, only for it to dissipate almost instantly. What took years to instill vanished in a matter of moments,” the Leader of the Opposition noted.
Gandhi also challenged PM Modi’s former strongman image, remarking, “In Parliament, I see the Prime Minister right up front, and I can tell you that the image of Mr. Modi with his ’56-inch chest’ and divine connection is now a thing of the past. That aura of dominance and strength that once defined him no longer carries the same impact.”
The Congress leader criticized the BJP’s vision for India, claiming the party overlooks the country’s intrinsic diversity. During a discussion with students at Georgetown University, he asserted that the BJP fails to recognize India’s rich and varied cultural and historical heritage. He accused the ruling party of ignoring the diversity that defines the nation.
‘Dekhi Jayegi’: Rahul Gandhi’s Response to Mallikarjun Kharge on Congress’ Frozen Bank Accounts
Rahul Gandhi emphasized that the core issue extends beyond politics, highlighting concerns over whether individuals will be permitted to continue exercising their cultural and religious rights.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, claimed that three months before the general elections, the Congress party’s bank accounts were “frozen,” leaving the party without funds for advertising or campaigning.
“We had no funds to transport our leaders. I recall discussing with Mallikarjun Kharge and the treasurer, who had lost his confidence about our next steps. I said, ‘dekhi jayegi, dekhte hain kya hota hai’ (We’ll see, let’s see what happens), and that was the spirit with which we approached the election,” Rahul Gandhi shared during an address to the Indian diaspora in Herndon, Virginia, on Monday.
Rahul Gandhi noted that this was the first time he had faced such a situation, despite having contested elections since 2004.
“This struggle goes beyond mere politics; that’s just the surface,” the Congress leader said. “The core issue is whether a person will still be permitted to wear his turban as a Sikh.”
He alleged that the RSS is advancing the notion that some states are inferior to others, certain languages are less important, and some religions are of lesser value.
In contrast, the Congress Party emphasizes that each state—whether Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, or Madhya Pradesh—has its own unique history, traditions, and languages, and every individual holds significance, according to Gandhi.
He further criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that the “fear of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” among the populace has dissipated following the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi accused the BJP and PM Modi of creating an atmosphere of fear and exerting pressure on small businesses through various agencies, but stated that this fear quickly disappeared.
Rahul Gandhi will spend two days in Washington before returning to Delhi. During his visit, he met with students at Georgetown University and attended a diaspora event in Virginia.
