BJP-RSS bunch of jokers: Rahul
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday referred to the BJP-RSS as a “bunch of jokers” who have no understanding of India and scoffed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of foreign policy which he claimed was all about hugging leaders. Addressing the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention here, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also claimed that the RSS as an original force is dead and has now become an “instrument of large capital — Mr Adani and Mr Ambani”.
Talking about the media toeing the government’s line on various issues, he said he understands their limitations but asserted that national spirit was about not allowing a “bunch of clowns to create an order over us”.
He also said it has somehow been ingrained in Modi’s mind that foreign policy is about hugging leaders. Gandhi then hugged Rachnatmak Congress chief Sandeep Dikshit to show what foreign policy was about for the current government. “Imagine the ignorance….where did he get the idea that foreign policy was about hugging leaders,” he said.
Dikshit then asked Gandhi, “Ek cheez pooch sakta hoon? Meloni samajh ke toh nahi pakda tha?” Some social media users slammed the remarks referring to Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni as misogynist. Gandhi responded by saying, “I have not reached there yet.”
The BJP hit back at Gandhi for his ‘bunch of jokers’ remarks with Education Minister Pralhad Joshi saying, “Rahul Gandhi, when will you grow up? Running India requires mature leadership, not amateur dramatics. Calling a democratically-elected government ‘jokers and clowns’ proves you are out of your depth. By insulting the Prime Minister, you mock millions of voters who chose Modi ji for three historic terms.”
“You are attacking the electorate’s intelligence simply because they rejected your dynastic politics. Labelling citizens as cowards for dismissing your negative narrative is exactly why you face almost a 100 electoral defeats. Stop the arrogance and respect the public mandate,” he added.
In his address, Gandhi, while asserting that the Congress will keep up the pressure on the government, said, “Till the day Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah don’t give their resignations, they will not be able to sleep, we will keep them awake…we will do it without hate, violence. We are fighting for our culture, our county is not about hate but about love, brotherhood and ‘ahimsa’.”
He said it is important to understand that the fight is between some people who want to give order to others and those who want to express themselves. “If you look at what was happening at Jantar Mantar, the students wanted to express themselves but the government stated that ‘we want order and you cannot express yourselves’,” he said.
“So their (BJP-RSS) political philosophy is to impose an order on India which benefits them and certain other people. Our job is to make India express itself and break that order,” Gandhi said, adding that “we will drive them crazy”. He claimed Modi is unable to sleep at night. “There are various reasons, there are some hidden reasons. You saw Amit Shah, so-called Chanakya, what else was he called, Sardar Patel, ‘tadipaar’, where has he disappeared? He ran way, he could not enter Parliament for 20 days…because for the first time they are feeling India’s expression.