The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress figure, Rahul Gandhi, has stirred a new political controversy. This comes following his comments on Lord Ram during a recent interaction at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs in the United States.
During this interaction Rahul Gandhi referred to Lord Ram as a “mythological figure”. Gandhi’s remarks drew immediate criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP accused the Congress party and LoP Rahul Gandhi of harboring an “anti-Hindu” and “anti-Ram” mindset.
Rahul Gandhi Advocates for Pluralistic Hinduism
The comments came as a response to a question on the role of secular politics in an era of rising Hindu nationalism. Rahul Gandhi emphasised the inclusive and tolerant nature of traditional Indian thought.
In the viral clip, Gandhi was heard saying, “…All are mythological figures; Lord Ram was of that type, where he was forgiving, he was compassionate.” Gandhi further differentiated between what he sees as genuine Hindu values and the ideology promoted by the BJP, describing the former as “pluralistic, embracing, and affectionate.”
In his reply, Mr Gandhi said none of the great social reformers and political thinkers in India have been bigots. “If you look at all great Indian social reformers and political thinkers, Buddha, Guru Nanak, Basava in Karnataka, Narayana Guru in Kerala, (Jyotirao) Phule, Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, you see one streak. None of these are bigots. None of these people are saying we want to isolate people, all these people, the voices of whom are in our Constitution, are saying the same thing: carry everybody with you, satya (truth) and ahimsa (non-violence, this is the bedrock of indian tradition and history,” Mr Gandhi said.
Targeting BJP
Gandhi also stressed that great Indian reformers, including Mahatma Gandhi, exemplified these values. He then criticized the ruling party’s approach as driven by fear and exclusion. “I don’t consider the BJP’s idea to be the Hindu idea at all,” he asserted.
Targeting the BJP, he said, “I don’t view the BJP conception as a Hindu conception. In terms of thinking, they are a fringe group, now they have captured political power, they have got a huge amount of wealth and power, but they don’t represent the large majority of indian thinkers by any means,” Mr Gandhi said.
BJP Leaders Lash Out: “Anti-Ram, Anti-Hindu Mindset”
BJP leaders were quick to seize upon Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him and the Congress of consistently undermining Hindu beliefs. Sharing clips from the interview on social media, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla wrote, “Insulting Hindus and Lord Ram has become the Congress party’s identity. Those who rejected Lord Ram’s existence through an affidavit, opposed the construction of Ram Temple, coined the ‘Hindu terror’ phrase, have now said Rahul Gandhi is ‘mythological’. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi did not attend the Ram Temple consecration. This shows their anti-Ram and anti-Hindu mindset. They speak Pakistan’s language, hurt the morale of the forces. They are anti-Ram and anti-India and the people won’t forgive this,” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said on X.
Joining the fray, Pradeep Bhandari, another BJP spokesperson, said, “Prabhu Shri Ram was just a mythological figure – this is the mindset of Congress: mock Hindu faith, question Lord Ram, and then fake love for Sanatan during elections. Congress is blatantly Anti-Hindu!”
Pradeep Bhandari echoed this sentiment, claiming the Congress mocks Hindu faith while attempting to project religious sensitivity during election campaigns. BJP’s CR Kesavan also referenced past statements from Congress allies like the DMK, which questioned the existence and actions of Lord Ram.
Ongoing Political Fallout
As the video of Gandhi’s remarks continues to circulate widely on social media, BJP leaders have intensified their attacks, accusing the Congress of pandering to anti-Hindu narratives and alienating religious sentiments. “Rashtra Drohi Congress, Ab Ram Drohi Congress,” said Poonawalla, claiming the Congress party’s identity is rooted in insulting Hindu beliefs.
