Rahul Gandhi targets PM and RSS at US event: '56-inch chest is history now'
PTC News Desk: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, currently on a three-day visit to the United States, continued his sharp criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Speaking to the Indian diaspora in Herndon, Virginia, on Monday, he remarked that the fear that once gripped the nation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections has dissipated. "The idea of Mr Modi, the 56-inch chest, and his supposed direct connection with god, that's all gone, it's history now," he said.
Rahul Gandhi highlighted a significant shift in the political atmosphere in India after the elections, emphasising that the fear once instilled by the BJP and PM Modi has disappeared. He stated that despite years of effort and substantial financial resources invested in spreading this fear, it vanished almost instantly.
#WATCH | Herndon, Virginia, USA: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "Something has changed after the elections. Some people said 'Dar nahi lagta ab, dar nikal gaya ab'...It is interesting to me that the BJP and PM Modi spread so much fear, and the pressure of… pic.twitter.com/kyazBfJp2Q — ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2024
"The BJP and PM used pressure from the media and central agencies to create an environment of fear, but it was wiped away in a moment," Gandhi said. He took direct aim at PM Modi, saying, "In Parliament, I see the Prime Minister up close, and it's evident that the idea of the 56-inch chest and his aura is no longer there."
The Congress leader also criticised the RSS, accusing the organization of promoting the idea that some Indian states and communities are inferior to others. "The RSS believes certain states, languages, and religions are inferior.
#WATCH | Herndon, Virginia, USA: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "What the RSS says is that certain states are inferior to other states. Certain languages are inferior to other languages, certain religions are inferior to other religions, and certain communities… pic.twitter.com/IZShUfsm9Q — ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2024
They don't understand that each state, from Punjab to Tamil Nadu, has its own rich history, tradition, and language, and each is equally important," he said. He emphasized that this ideological battle extends to elections and Parliament, as it shapes what kind of India will emerge.
Rahul Gandhi further stated that the BJP and RSS misunderstand the fundamental nature of India, describing the country as a "union of states," which is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. He stressed that this union embodies the nation's diversity of cultures, languages, and traditions.
On the previous day in Texas, Rahul Gandhi made similar remarks, stating that after the BJP failed to secure a majority on its own in the general elections, the fear of PM Modi and the BJP quickly dissipated across the country.
He also reiterated his stance on the RSS's ideology, arguing that while the RSS sees India as a single idea, Congress views it as a collection of diverse ideas. Gandhi claimed that millions of Indians saw the Prime Minister's actions as an attack on India's Constitution during the Lok Sabha elections, further intensifying the ideological battle between the two camps.
This marks the second consecutive day that Rahul Gandhi has criticized PM Modi, the BJP, and the RSS during his U.S. visit.
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- With inputs from agencies
