New Delhi [India], January 15: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, took a strong stance against the BJP and the RSS during the inauguration of the party’s new headquarters, ‘Indira Bhawan,’ on Monday. He claimed that the Congress and other opposition parties were no longer just fighting a political party but the Indian state itself.
“Our ideology, like the RSS ideology, is thousands of years old and has been in direct opposition to the RSS ideology for just as long. Do not be mistaken—we are not engaged in a fair fight. If you believe we are merely fighting a political organization like the BJP or RSS, you have not understood the situation. The BJP and RSS have captured every single institution in our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian state,” Gandhi said.
He further expressed concerns about the functioning of national institutions, particularly the media, which he claimed had lost its neutrality. “We do not know whether our institutions are functional or non-functional. It is clear that the media is no longer free and fair, and the public is aware of it,” Gandhi remarked.
The Congress MP also raised issues about the Election Commission’s operations, especially in relation to the recent elections in Maharashtra. “I have previously stated that something went wrong in the Maharashtra elections. We are uncomfortable with how the Election Commission is operating. The sudden appearance of nearly one crore new voters between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra is concerning. The Election Commission must provide transparency regarding the voters’ list, but they have refused to do so,” he said.
Gandhi went on to stress the Election Commission’s duty to ensure transparency, calling it a responsibility to explain any discrepancies in the voting process. “Every Congress member and every opposition figure must recognize that there is a serious issue with our election system. The Election Commission must take responsibility for explaining these matters,” he stated.
Additionally, Gandhi accused the BJP of trying to suppress the voices of minorities, backward castes, Dalits, and tribals, asserting that their ultimate goal was to establish rule by a single leader. “They want to suppress the voices of Dalits, minorities, backward castes, and tribals. They want India to be governed by one man. This is their agenda,” he said.
Highlighting Congress’s opposition to this agenda, Gandhi emphasized the role of the party in safeguarding India’s values. “There is no other party in this country that can stop them. The only party that can challenge them is Congress. Our ideology is long-standing and not something that emerged yesterday,” he said.
Gandhi also criticized the current ruling party, stating, “The people in power today do not salute the tricolour, do not believe in the national flag, and do not believe in the Constitution. They have a completely different vision for India.”
In his address, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also marked a significant moment in the party’s history, stating, “It’s a proud moment for the legacy of Indira Gandhi as we inaugurate the new Congress headquarters, fulfilling a vision initiated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru ji had envisioned this site for the Congress Bhawan, and I am happy that this vision has been realized by Sonia Gandhi ji.”
The Indira Gandhi Bhawan, located at 9A, Kotla Road, represents a historic milestone in the Congress party’s 139-year journey. It has been designed to accommodate the party’s evolving needs, with modern facilities to support its administrative, organizational, and strategic functions.