New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that the people lost their fear of the BJP or Prime Minister “within minutes” of the 2024 Lok Sabha election result. He made the remarks while speaking to Indian diaspora at an event in Dallas, Texas, during his visit to the US.
"I was amazed that it happened so quickly was that fear of the BJP vanished, disappeared, gone and we saw that immediately. Within minutes of the election result, nobody in India was scared of the BJP or the Prime Minister of India," he said.
The outcome of the election, Gandhi said, was not a victory for himself or the Congress party, but a reflection of the will of the Indian people.
"These are huge achievements of the people of India who realized democracy, of the people of India who realized that we are not going to accept an attack on our constitution. We are not going to accept an attack on our religion. We're not going to accept an attack on our states."
The Congress leader said that the people of India stood up to the government’s perceived efforts to undermine the Constitution and democratic values. "We are not going to accept an attack on our religion, on our state," he asserted.
This was Gandhi first interaction with the Indian diaspora after becoming Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha this summer.
'RSS Believes India Is One Idea'
At the event, the Congress leader said that the RSS believes India is one idea and Congress believes that India is a multiplicity of ideas.
"The RSS believes that India is one idea and we believe that India is a multiplicity of ideas and we believe by the way, very much like the United States, we believe that everybody should be allowed to participate."
He emphasised that every person should be given space irrespective of their caste, language, religion, tradition, and history.
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Speaking about the Indian diaspora living in the US, he said that when they came to the country from India, they had come with values of constitution, respect, and humility. He said that Indians came to live in the US with love and affection," he said.
Rahul Gandhi arrived in the US on a three-day visit on Sunday. During the visit, the Congress leader will hold "meaningful discussions and insightful conversations" to further strengthen the bond between India and America.
Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda said last week that the Opposition leader is not coming to the US in his official capacity but will have a chance to interact with a variety of people on Capitol Hill at an "individual level".
During his visit from September 8-10, the Congress leader would hold numerous interactions in Washington DC and Dallas, including at the University of Georgetown and the University of Texas.