Parts Of Rahul Gandhi's Speech In Lok Sabha On Hindus, BJP Expunged

In his first speech as Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi's comments on Hindus, PM Modi, BJP, and RSS created quite a stir. Certain parts of his remarks have now been expunged from the records.

Several portions of Leader Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's speech in the House on Monday have been expunged from the Lok Sabha's record. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the RSS.

This was Rahul Gandhi’s first address as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha. At the beginning of his speech, the Congress MP brandished a copy of the Constitution and a photo of Lord Shiva while criticising the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Rahul Gandhi’s comments equating BJP with violent Hindus sparked strong protests from the saffron party MPs and prompted an intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi stood to interrupt the Congress MP, stating, “Accusing the entire Hindu community of violence is a very serious allegation.” To this, the Congress said that Rahul Gandhi was only referring to the BJP and not the entire Hindu community.

Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi for associating the BJP with violence. Shah also strongly objected to Gandhi’s comparison of 'violent Hindus' with the BJP, insisting that the Congress leader issue an apology.

What Congress And Allies Said

Reacting to the Parliament's move to expunge Rahul Gandhi's remarks from the Lok Sabha records, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not like the truth. "When the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhiji speaks the truth about RSS, Adani, Ambani, and Agniveer, Modi doesn't like it. The truth about these issues has been expunged. Modi and Shah can't tolerate the truth. Since when did RSS, Adani, Ambani, and Agniveer become unparliamentary," he asked in a post on X.

Congress ally Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) leader Sanjay Raut defended Rahul Gandhi saying the Leader of Opposition did not say anything against the Hindu community. "Rahul Gandhi has not said anything wrong about Hindus... He said that Modiji is not Hindutva and BJP is not the entire Hindu community." "Even in Maharashtra, their [BJP's] narrative is that Shiv Sena broke alliance with Hindutva when we severed our relation with the BJP. BJP is not Hindutva. Hindutva's definition is much broader than the BJP." 

"Rahul Gandhi only said that we do not accept the fake Hindutva of the BJP," Raut added.