Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He said, “In Modi Ji’s world, truth can be expunged. But in reality, the truth can’t be expunged. I said what I had to say; that is the truth. They can expunge as much as they want. Truth is truth.”
Gandhi spoke to reporters outside Parliament about the controversy over the removal of some of his remarks from the official record. He accused the ruling party of causing communal divisions, which led to protests from government members. Prime Minister Modi criticized Gandhi, claiming he had labeled the entire Hindu community as violent.
In his first speech as Leader of the Opposition, Gandhi addressed the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address. He quoted religious leaders and teachings to emphasize the importance of fearlessness. Gandhi mentioned Prophet Muhammad and showed images of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ. He pointed out that major religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism, all teach courage and oppose fear. “Do not be scared; do not scare others,” he said.
Gandhi’s criticisms of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were removed from the official record. These included claims of unfair treatment of minorities, criticism of industrialists Adani and Ambani, allegations that the NEET exam favors the wealthy over meritorious students, and that the Agniveer Scheme was initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office, not the Indian Army.
During his hour-and-forty-minute speech, Gandhi was interrupted multiple times, including twice by Prime Minister Modi and several cabinet ministers. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi, highlighting the tension in the House.
Gandhi remained firm, stating, “It is not just one religion that talks about courage. All our religions talk about courage.” He also challenged the BJP’s commitment to Hinduism, saying, “Aap Hindu ho hi nahi” [You are not Hindu]. He emphasized that Hinduism teaches standing with the truth and not being scared of it.
Prime Minister Modi responded by highlighting the seriousness of Gandhi’s accusations, stating, “This issue is serious. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue.”
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