By The Sampadak Express
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, during his speech at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meet in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, signaled the party’s push to merge its social justice agenda with a vision of pluralism. This move appears to be an attempt to reconnect with Hindu voters who have shifted to the BJP in recent years.“
We also call ourselves Hindus, but our religion is one that respects and loves everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or gender,” said Rahul, referring to a controversial incident in Rajasthan where BJP leaders had reportedly washed a temple after a Dalit leader, Tika Ram Jully, visited it. Gandhi criticized the BJP’s stance, claiming that their actions towards Dalits contradicted their professed Hindu values.“
The hearts of BJP workers are filled with hate,” Rahul remarked, contrasting this with Congress’s inclusive approach. He argued that the BJP’s treatment of Dalits, tribals, and backward castes was akin to the disrespect shown to Jully, and stressed that this was the core issue of the ongoing political battle.
In his 40-minute speech, Rahul also praised the Telangana government, led by Revanth Reddy, for its “revolutionary” steps toward social justice, including a caste survey and significant reservation measures for backward castes. He asserted that the work done in Telangana would serve as a model for the rest of the country.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also weighed in on the Rajasthan controversy, asserting that if the Leader of Opposition in a state had to face such discrimination, it indicated a much wider issue. He highlighted that Dalits and backward castes are also Hindus, and Congress adheres to an inclusive version of Hinduism, distinct from the divisive ideology promoted by the BJP.
A key point of discussion at the AICC meeting was the party’s reaffirmation of its commitment to secularism, a principle that was initially omitted from a draft resolution but later reinstated. The resolution emphasized India’s age-old traditions of secularism, which Congress claims are being undermined by the BJP.
In a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul referenced the imposition of new tariffs on Indian goods by the US under Donald Trump’s administration. He mocked Modi’s earlier close relationship with Trump, asking rhetorically if the Prime Minister would “hug” Trump now, given the economic consequences of the tariffs. Rahul also took a jab at Modi for his meeting with Bangladesh’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus, questioning where his “56-inch chest” was during that encounter.
Rahul’s speech underscored the Congress party’s renewed focus on social justice and secularism as key pillars of its opposition to the BJP’s political Hindutva.
