Congress leader Rahul Gandhi commenced his three-day visit to the United States with his arrival in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday. He was greeted with enthusiasm by members of the Indian diaspora and the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC).
Warm Reception in Dallas
This marks Rahul Gandhi's first trip to the United States since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
During his visit, Gandhi will be in Dallas on September 8, followed by Washington, DC, on September 9-10. He addressed an audience at Georgetown University and participated in another event in Herndon, a Virginia suburb of Washington, DC.
I am truly delighted by the warm welcome I’ve received in Dallas, Texas, USA, from the Indian Diaspora and members of the Indian Overseas Congress”, sharing his experience on social media, Rahul Gandhi expressed his gratitude.
He added, “I eagerly look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions and insightful conversations that will further strengthen the bond between our two nations during this visit.”
Addressing Key Issues at Georgetown University
At Georgetown University, Rahul Gandhi interacted with students and faculty, stating that he does not harbor any hatred toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi, although he disagrees with his point of view.
He emphasized, “You will be surprised, but I don't actually hate Mr Modi. He has got a point of view, fine. I don't agree with his point of view but I don't hate him. In many moments, I empathize with him. I don't think like he is my enemy. He has a different point of view, I have a different point of view. I have empathy and compassion for what he is doing.”
He elaborated on his view of India as a nation characterized by unity in diversity, while accusing the BJP and RSS of misunderstanding this concept.
"India at heart, is a union of languages, traditions, histories, religion, everything... When you have lunch here, you get first course, second course. We don't get that, we get a thali, and everything placed in it... It's a jumble and every food has the same value. So this idea of mixing and merging is in India," he explained.
Exploring the Concept of 'Love' in Politics
Gandhi further explained the idea behind his slogan "Mohabbat Ki Dukaan," stating that his approach is rooted in love and empathy, even for political opponents.
He said, "When Indian people go to their religious places, they merge with their deity. This is the nature of India. The misunderstanding that the BJP and RSS have is they think that India is a whole bunch of separate things. So we don't need to redefine anything, it's already there.”
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On Modi and the BJP: Rahul Gandhi stated that the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections shattered the "idea of Modi," and the "fear" instilled by the Prime Minister has now "become history."
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Allegations on Electoral Fairness: He alleged that the elections were not fought on a level playing field, claiming that the ruling coalition led by the BJP had collapsed, breaking “right down the middle.”
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On Modi’s Confidence During Elections: Responding to a question, Gandhi asserted that midway through the election campaign, Prime Minister Modi did not believe he would achieve a majority of 300 or 400 seats.
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Criticism of the RSS: Rahul Gandhi criticized the RSS, stating, “What the RSS is basically saying is that certain states are inferior to other states. Certain languages are inferior to other languages. Certain religions are inferior to other religions. Certain communities are inferior to other communities. This is what the fight is about.”
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On BJP's Understanding of India: He argued that the BJP lacks an understanding of India as a union of diverse states, languages, traditions, and histories. He said, “India is called a union of states. And in the Constitution, it's written clearly. India, that is Bharat, is a union of states. It means it's a union of languages, traditions, histories, etc. They say this is not a union. These are separate things. Among these, only one is very important. And whose headquarters is in Nagpur.”
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On Reservations: Rahul Gandhi clarified that the Congress would consider scrapping reservations only when India becomes a fair and equitable society, which, according to him, is not the current reality. “We will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place. And India is not a fair place,” he stated.
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Uniform Civil Code: When asked about the Uniform Civil Code, Gandhi mentioned that the Congress would only comment after understanding the BJP's specific proposal. “The BJP is proposing a uniform civil code. We haven't seen it. We have no idea what they're talking about. For us to comment on it doesn't make sense. When they pull it out, then we'll have a look and we'll comment on it,” he noted.
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Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Critique: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized Gandhi’s statements, accusing him of tarnishing India’s image abroad. He remarked, "Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and he is also accountable for the country. Going out of the country and tarnishing the country's image is a crime like treason, no patriot can do this."
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BJP's Reaction on Remarks about Sikhs: The BJP challenged Rahul Gandhi to repeat in India what he said about Sikhs in Virginia, threatening legal action. BJP leader RP Singh highlighted the massacre of Sikhs in Delhi under Congress rule.
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RSS Suggestion by BJP Spokesperson: BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad suggested that Rahul Gandhi join the RSS to gain a deeper understanding of the organization. “It’s incorrect for Rahul Gandhi to comment on the RSS without a proper understanding of the organization... If given the chance, Rahul Gandhi should consider joining the RSS to broaden his perspective," Prasad stated.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to the US has sparked significant debate and controversy, with his statements drawing strong reactions from both supporters and opponents. His comments on India's diversity, the RSS, and the BJP's governance continue to be discussed and debated across political and social spheres.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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