On Monday, BJP leaders unleashed a barrage of criticism against Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, accusing him of spreading lies and displaying Hindu hatred in his speech during the President’s address in Parliament. JP Nadda, the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, took to X (formerly Twitter) to launch a scathing attack, calling Gandhi’s speech “the worst show” and highlighting what he perceived as inconsistencies and flawed logic. Nadda pointed out Gandhi’s “third successive loss” in the 2024 elections, emphasizing a lack of understanding of the mandate and humility. He demanded immediate apologies to all Hindus for “terming them as violent”, referencing Gandhi’s previous comments about Hindus to foreign diplomats. Nadda accused Gandhi of blatantly lying about issues concerning farmers and the armed forces, sharing counters provided by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on MSP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the Agniveer scheme. He further criticized Gandhi for prioritizing cheap politics over the well-being of farmers and security forces. Nadda highlighted the importance of a healthy debate during the discussion on the President’s Speech, criticizing the opposition’s destructive approach. He emphasized the unprecedented nature of the opposition being rejected three times consecutively and predicted further losses in the future. He also criticized Gandhi’s lack of parliamentary decorum and his disrespectful behavior towards the Chair, calling for an apology for casting unsubstantiated aspersions. Union Minister S. Jaishankar joined the chorus of criticism, highlighting the perceived hypocrisy in Gandhi’s attacks on Hindus while professing brotherhood to all. He also pointed out Gandhi’s criticism of the Indian Army’s bravery while expressing concern for their welfare and his actions of tearing up cabinet decisions while advocating for respect for the Constitution. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman further condemned Gandhi, accusing him and the Congress of engaging in appeasement politics fueled by Hindu hatred. She highlighted Gandhi’s description of all Hindus as ‘hinsak’ (violent), showcasing the Congress’s contempt for Hindus and aligning it with the Hindu hate of the INDI alliance partners. She exposed the hypocrisy of the Congress claiming to be a ‘Mohabbat ki Dukaan’ (store of love). This public showdown highlights the deep political divide in India and the escalating tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party.
