The recent remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha wherein he associated the Hindus with violence have sparked strong reactions from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), who have accused him of deeply insulting Hindus.
RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar expressed dismay over Gandhi’s comments linking Hindutva with violence, calling it “extremely unfortunate.” He emphasised that Hindutva, whether espoused by figures like Swami Vivekananda or Mahatma Gandhi, symbolises harmony and brotherhood, and criticised any negative portrayal of it.
“It is unfortunate that people holding important responsible positions in the Parliament are associating Hindutva with violence. Hindutva is such that whether it is Vivekananda’s or Gandhi’s, it is a symbol of harmony and brotherhood, nothing more than that. Such a reaction to Hindutva is not right…” he added.
#WATCH | On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament, Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, RSS says, "It is unfortunate that people holding important responsible positions in the Parliament are associating Hindutva with violence. Hindutva is such that whether it… pic.twitter.com/GskFIoBm0o
— ANI (@ANI) July 1, 2024
President of VHP, Alok Kumar, echoed similar sentiments, describing Gandhi’s remarks as unjust and asserting that Hindus have historically refrained from using violence to convert others. Kumar also referenced WikiLeaks disclosures alleging Gandhi’s concerns about Hindu radicalism over jihadi terrorism in conversations with US diplomats.
हिन्दुओं को हिंसक बताने वाले श्री राहुल गाँधी के बयान की हम भर्त्सना करते हैं : श्री आलोक कुमार (@AlokKumarLIVE), अंतर्राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष, विश्व हिन्दू परिषद pic.twitter.com/cx2tgsvG6N
— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) July 1, 2024
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi joined the chorus of criticism against Gandhi. Adityanath condemned Gandhi for allegedly equating Hindus with violence and falsehoods, while Trivedi pointed to previous statements by Congress leaders like P Chidambaram and Sushil Shinde, which he claimed had unfairly linked Hindus with terrorism.
The collective criticism from the RSS, VHP, and BJP represents a concerted pushback within the Sangh Parivar, especially significant amidst perceptions of differences between the BJP and RSS. This reaction follows recent remarks by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, seen by some as directed against the BJP, criticising what he termed as “arrogance.”
Gandhi’s comments have reignited debates on religious tolerance and political rhetoric in India, prompting calls for clarity and responsibility in public discourse from all sides.
