During an interaction with students at Georgetown University in the United States, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, shared his perspectives on the Lok Sabha elections and several pressing issues, including business, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), media control, and the Indian Constitution.
Concerns Over Institutional Takeover
Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns about the state of Indian institutions, saying, "Before the elections, we were worried that the institutions have been taken over... it was not a fair game for us. The education system has been taken over by the RSS. The media and investigation agencies are under control. We were telling this to the people, but they were not able to understand this..." His remarks highlighted the challenges faced by his party, Congress, in conveying these issues to the electorate.
The Constitution and Public Awareness
Gandhi emphasized the importance of the Constitution in his efforts to raise public awareness. He stated, "After this, I started keeping the Constitution with me and people started understanding everything... The poor and suffering people of India understood that if the Constitution goes, everything will go away. The poor people understood that this fight is between those who save the Constitution and those who want to destroy it." According to him, this approach helped people realize the gravity of the situation and the fundamental threat to democratic values.
Caste Census
The issue of a caste census also emerged as a significant topic, according to Gandhi. He explained that various issues began to converge, stating, "The issue of caste census also became big. All these things came together suddenly."
He further criticized the conduct of the elections, suggesting that the process was manipulated in favor of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "I don't think that in a fair election, BJP could have won even 246 seats. They had financial support, they locked our bank accounts. The Election Commission was doing what they wanted," he said, alluding to what he perceived as an unfair advantage held by the BJP due to its control over financial resources and regulatory bodies.
Election campaign was strategically designed
Gandhi also alleged that the entire election campaign was strategically designed to bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi's influence across the country. "The entire election campaign was designed in such a way that Narendra Modi could do his work in the whole country. The states where he was weak were designed differently, where he was strong, they were designed differently. I don't consider it a free election. I consider it a controlled election," he added.
A New Sense of Fearlessness
Reflecting on his experiences following the elections, Gandhi shared that his fear has dissipated. "Now I don't feel scared, the fear is gone. BJP and Prime Minister Modi spread so much fear, put pressure on small businessmen, everything disappeared in seconds," he stated. He further elaborated that it took the BJP years to instill fear, but it vanished almost instantly.
In his view, the once-powerful image of Modi has weakened. "In Parliament, I see the Prime Minister in front. I can tell that Modi's idea, 56-inch chest, direct connection with God, all this is over now, all this has become history now," Gandhi remarked, indicating a shift in public perception and political dynamics.
Betrayal of marginalized communities
Gandhi concluded by highlighting what he sees as a collusion between the government and a few major businesses, as well as a betrayal of marginalized communities. "There is a big collusion between the government and two or three big businesses. OBCs and Dalits are being cheated," he asserted, suggesting that certain societal groups are not receiving fair treatment under the current administration.
Overall, Rahul Gandhi's comments reflect his deep concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions in India and his determination to continue challenging what he perceives as an unfair political landscape.
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