Opposition mounts counter-narrative of being a ‘real Hindu’ in Lok Sabha after uproar over Rahul Gandhi’s comments

Opposition leaders counter BJP's Hindu narrative, emphasize Gandhi's teachings, question EVMs, and celebrate electoral victory in 2024.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his colleagues from the BJP accused Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of insulting the Hindu community, Opposition leaders built a counter-narrative of being “a real Hindu” while speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to Parliament.

Congress leader K.C. Venugopal asserted that the BJP was using Hindu religion to polarise people and win the election. He pointed out how the BJP lost Banswara in Rajasthan and Banaskantha in Gujarat despite the Prime Minister alleging that Congress will snatch mangalsutra and buffalos from Hindus and give it away to minorities.

“Mahatma Gandhi and [Nathuram] Godse both believed in Bhagavad Gita. But Gandhi learnt tolerance, non-violence and the message of Bhagavad Gita and Lord Krishna. Godse learnt violence and intolerance from the same text. We are followers of Gandhi’s Hinduism, not Godse’s Hinduism,” he said.

His colleague, Gaurav Gogoi, said the Prime Minister may believe in his divine origins but the mandate proved him to be human.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Faizabad seat of Ayodhya, Awadhesh Prasad, said the BJP’s loss in Lord Ram’s birthplace not only made domestic headlines but international ones as well. “In this 29-page long President’s Address, there is no mention of Ayodhya, the land of Lord Ram,” Mr. Prasad said.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the BJP’s defeat in Faizabad constituency, under which the Ram temple has been built, conveyed the wisdom of voters and has brought an end to communal politics. “The victory in Ayodhya is the victory of mature voters’ democratic understanding. Hoye wahi jo Ram rachi rakha. [Whatever Lord Ram has decided will happen],” Mr. Yadav said.

He also lashed out at the government over a range of issues — from paper leaks including the recent NEET exam, unemployment, Aginpath scheme, caste census and the conduct of the recent general elections among others.