Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, addressed the Indian diaspora in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, where he discussed the political atmosphere in India post the recent Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi stated that the fear of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has diminished among the people since the election results. In his speech, he referenced the concept of Abhayamudra, a symbol of fearlessness found in various Indian religions, which he mentioned in his first speech in Parliament after the polls. According to Gandhi, the BJP was unable to tolerate or comprehend the significance of this concept.
He emphasized that the fear surrounding the BJP disappeared almost immediately after the election results were announced. “We saw that within minutes of the election result, nobody in India was scared of the BJP or the Prime Minister of India,” said Gandhi. He clarified that these developments were not a personal victory for him or the Congress party, but rather an achievement of the Indian people who have embraced democracy and rejected fear.
In his remarks, Gandhi also drew a distinction between the ideologies of the Congress and the BJP’s parent organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He asserted that the RSS promotes the belief that India is defined by a singular idea, whereas the Congress party believes that India embodies a multiplicity of ideas. He stressed that India’s strength lies in its diversity of thought, culture, and perspectives.
Gandhi’s address in Dallas is part of his ongoing international outreach, aiming to connect with the Indian diaspora and reflect on the evolving political climate in India, highlighting the broader ideological battle between inclusivity and centralization.