Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s well-known hugs with foreign leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, by embracing Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on stage.
Addressing the Rachnatmak Congress national convention, Rahul Gandhi said, “I don't know where he (PM Modi) got this idea from. Strange ideas get into people's heads. He thinks this is foreign policy,” before giving Dikshit a hug.
Dikshit jokingly asked, “You weren't hugging me thinking I was Meloni?” Rahul Gandhi responded, “I haven't reached that stage yet,” prompting laughter from the audience.
The incident sparked a political controversy, with the BJP accusing Rahul Gandhi of making an “immature” comment, while the Congress defended him, pointing out that he had not even referred to Meloni by name.
BJP spokesperson Sanju Verma told India Today TV that Rahul Gandhi’s “remark was deplorable, despicable” and “certainly not becoming” of the Leader of Opposition or someone aspiring to become Prime Minister.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed, however, said Rahul Gandhi had not made any reference to Meloni. “Rahul Gandhi has not used the word Meloni. Rahul Gandhi gave him (Sandeep Dikshit) a hug. There is nothing wrong,” she told India Today TV.
Shama also criticised PM Modi’s interactions with foreign leaders, saying she was “appalled” by his frequent hugs. “I am married to a foreigner. They don't like to be hugged. They like hands to be shaken. When they are familiar with you, they do a hug or a kiss,” she said.
RAHUL GANDHI CALLS BJP, RSS 'BUNCH OF JOKERS'
During the event, Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on the BJP and RSS, describing them as a “bunch of jokers” and “clowns” who, according to him, have little understanding of India’s history, culture or present circumstances.
He alleged that the political ideology of the BJP-RSS sought to impose an order on India that served their interests and those of certain others, while the Congress wanted to give people the freedom to “express themselves.”
Referring to the events at Jantar Mantar, he said students wanted to express themselves, but the government’s position was that “we want order and you cannot express yourselves.”
He described the political contest as a struggle between those seeking to impose their preferred order on others and those advocating the freedom of people to express themselves.
'RSS NOW AN INSTRUMENT OF LARGE CAPITAL'
The Raebareli MP alleged that the RSS had moved away from its original character and had been “captured and utilised by large capital”, specifically naming industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani.
“The RSS as an original force is dead, they are gone. Now the RSS is an instrument of large capital. They are servants of Mr Adani, just like Mr Modi is a servant of Mr Adani,” he alleged.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the RSS initially represented sections of India’s small business community but that its character had changed over time.
The Leader of Opposition also connected this transformation with demonetisation, alleging that the RSS had backed policies that adversely affected small businesses.
'WE WILL KEEP PM, AMIT SHAH AWAKE'
Rahul Gandhi vowed to maintain pressure on the government, saying Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah would not be allowed to “sleep” until they resigned.
“Till the day PM Modi and Amit Shah don't give their resignations, they will not be able to sleep. We will keep them awake,” he said.
He said the Congress would continue its political campaign without resorting to violence or hatred. “We will do it without hate, violence. We are fighting for our culture. Our country is not about hate but about love, brotherhood and ahimsa (non-violence),” he said.
Rahul Gandhi reiterated his claim that the RSS was no longer the original force it once was and did not represent the India it had previously sought to engage with.
“You cannot understand India 3,000 years ago, you have to understand India today. To understand it today, you have to understand its expression,” he said.
He added that even if the RSS attempted to establish its own “little order”, it would ultimately be challenged and dismantled by the expression of the Indian people.
