Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targets Modi govt, RSS over history, backs protesting students

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the Narendra Modi government and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), warning that India would not allow its history to be "trampled upon" and accusing the ruling establishment of failing to address the concerns of protesting students.

Speaking at the launch of Vaiko in Parliament, a compilation of MDMK general secretary Vaiko's parliamentary speeches, Gandhi praised the veteran Tamil leader for what he described as consistency in public life. He said Vaiko had remained committed to his ideas throughout his political career.

Gandhi, however, used the occasion to broaden his attack on the RSS and the Modi government, saying the country's history could not be altered or imposed by any one organisation.


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"RSS can't change our history; India will not tolerate its history to be trampled upon by anybody," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader has repeatedly accused the BJP and RSS of seeking to impose a single ideological narrative on India's diverse traditions, languages and histories. During the Tamil Nadu election campaign in April, Gandhi had said the BJP believed in "one tradition, one language and one history" and argued that the Congress-DMK alliance would defend Tamil language, culture and history from what he described as the BJP-RSS's influence.

Gandhi's latest remarks also come amid a wider political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP over the interpretation of India's history and constitutional values. In April, Gandhi had alleged that the RSS and BJP were attempting to "end the Constitution", arguing that the Constitution was the force binding India together.

Speaking at the launch, Gandhi also criticised the Centre over the concerns of protesting students, saying they were "in severe pain" and demanding fairness in examinations and an education system that works. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks, Gandhi questioned his right to "forgive" students, saying the prime minister should instead address their concerns and the problems they are facing.

Gandhi also accused the RSS and the Modi government of promoting what he called a "dangerous and caustic idea" that India is not an expression of its many communities and regions. Referring to the Constitution's description of India as a "Union of States", he said every state represents the history, tradition, language and experiences of its people. Gandhi stressed that every state therefore has the right to its own expression and must be treated fairly.

Rahul Gandhi backs protesting students

Gandhi also renewed his criticism of the Modi government over the ongoing agitation by students against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

"Students in severe pain don't need PM's forgiveness; Modi needs to apologise instead," Gandhi said.

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The Congress leader has been at the forefront of the Opposition's criticism of the Centre over the student protests and alleged examination irregularities. Earlier, Gandhi had demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise over the police action against protesting students, saying the government had failed to address concerns surrounding India's examination and education system.

Gandhi subsequently alleged that India's education system had become a "rigged system", claiming that 152 examination paper leaks had occurred over the past decade and affected around 7.5 crore students. He also demanded accountability for the alleged lathi-charge on protesters and sought the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.