In a renewed criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the organizations of viewing certain states, languages, and religions as inferior. Speaking at an event in Herndon, Virginia, during his three-day US visit, Gandhi emphasized that the BJP does not understand that India is a union of diverse histories, traditions, music, and dance. He claimed that the BJP’s approach disregards this diversity by treating India as a homogeneous entity.
The Congress MP also accused the RSS of promoting the idea that some states and languages, such as Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Manipuri, are inferior to others. He further argued that the RSS’s belief system extends to viewing some religions and communities as lesser. This marks the second instance of Gandhi criticizing the RSS and BJP during his US tour.
During an earlier speech in Dallas, Gandhi highlighted the RSS’s vision of India as a singular idea, contrasting it with the Congress party’s belief in India as a collection of diverse ideas. He mentioned that the BJP lost public fear after the recent Lok Sabha election results, which he described as a reflection of the will of the people.
Gandhi’s US visit from September 8-10 includes numerous engagements at institutions like Georgetown University and the University of Texas. He will also meet various people on Capitol Hill to foster discussions and build relations between India and the US.
