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Discover the eye-opening statements made by Rahul Gandhi in Paris! Uncover the controversial remarks about BJP, RSS, and Hinduism. Get the inside scoop on his Europe tour’s explosive revelations.
In Paris on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asserting that their actions were not in line with Hindu principles and that they could not be considered ‘Hindu nationalists.’
Speaking during an interaction with students at Science Po University in Paris, France, Gandhi stated, “I have studied the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and other Hindu scriptures, and I can confidently say that the BJP’s actions have nothing to do with Hinduism. Nowhere in Hindu texts or teachings does it advocate terrorizing or harming weaker individuals? Therefore, the term ‘Hindu nationalists’ is inaccurate. They are primarily focused on acquiring power at any cost, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. Their agenda is centred on the dominance of a select few, and this has nothing to do with Hinduism.”
Furthermore, Gandhi accused the BJP-led central government and the RSS of attempting to suppress the expression and participation of minority communities in India. He emphasized his commitment to preventing this from happening in the country and expressed his concern about minorities feeling uncomfortable in their own homeland.
When asked about the India-Bharat naming controversy, Rahul Gandhi commented that he didn’t mind whether the country was called India or Bharat, but he suggested that the BJP’s decision to change the name was motivated by irritation due to the Opposition alliance’s use of the name INDIA.
Rahul Gandhi, who recently returned as a Lok Sabha MP, embarked on a week-long trip to Europe during the G-20 summit, with plans to return on September 11, a day after the summit concludes.
The BJP and RSS had not issued an immediate response to Gandhi’s statements. Previously, the BJP criticized his visit during the G20 Summit, accusing him of tarnishing India’s image abroad. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also claimed that Gandhi was attacking India from foreign soil and attempting to distract from India’s successful G20 summit.
During his European tour, Gandhi met with European Parliamentary members and discussed concerns about attacks on democratic institutions in India. Some in India criticized him for engaging with what they perceived as anti-India activists during his overseas engagements.
In Belgium, Gandhi held meetings with European Union leaders, students, and the media to discuss the state of democratic processes in India, which he believed were under threat. In France, he interacted with students at Sciences Po and participated in a meeting of the Labour Union of France in Paris.
Gandhi’s next destination is Norway, where he will address a diaspora event in Oslo and deliver a speech at the University of Oslo before returning to India.