This month, on July 1st, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi delivered his first speech in Parliament. He presented a copy of the Constitution and a picture of Lord Shiva while making his points and referred to the Abhay Mudra. His unique style garnered significant attention. At the end of the month, Rahul once again took the floor on a Monday to speak on the budget and target the government on several issues, with the term 'Chakravyuh' taking center stage in his speech.
Rahul Gandhi said, 'This 'Chakravyuh' that has been formed has harmed millions of people. We will break this trap. The biggest way to break it is through a caste census, which you all fear. I.N.D.I.A will pass a guaranteed legal MSP in this house. We will pass the caste census here and show you.'
The Finance Minister Held Her Head Listening to Rahul
During Rahul Gandhi's 46-minute speech, there came a moment when even the Finance Minister held her head in frustration listening to his words. Since the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi has focused on issues like the Agnipath scheme, unemployment, and addressing the concerns of backward and Dalit communities. He consistently emphasizes the need for a caste census. These topics dominated his speech on the budget as well.
Source: aajtak
Rahul said, 'This budget distribution—there is not a single OBC, tribal, or Dalit officer involved. What is going on, sir? The country's distribution process excludes 73%. Hearing this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held her head in frustration and said, 'You are enjoying the benefits, but the rest of the country is missing out.'
'Only 2-3 Percent are Benefiting'
Rahul Gandhi pointed out that out of 20 officers involved in creating the country's budget, only one is a minority and one is an OBC. There are no Dalit or tribal officers. Referring to the pre-budget ritual of distributing sweets, he accused the government of benefiting just 2-3% of the population, excluding the rest of India.
Rahul said, '90-95% want a caste-based census. People need to know their representation. The ones distributing and receiving the benefits are the same 2-3%. The Finance Minister is smiling. This is not a laughing matter, Madam. This is about a caste-based census.'
JDU Supports Caste Census
Rahul Gandhi continues to build his electoral strategy around the caste census, which has benefitted Congress in elections. The Congress and I.N.D.I.A alliance consistently promise to conduct a caste census if they come to power. Rahul reiterated this in Parliament and received support from JDU as well.
JDU has supported the caste census from the beginning. As Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar has already implemented it in Bihar. Hence, Rahul consistently targets BJP by connecting it with the 'Chakravyuh' and giving it a new dimension.
Second Time Rahul Shows a Photo in the House
This marks the second occasion since becoming the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha that Rahul Gandhi has attempted to make his point by showing a photo, which the Speaker disallowed. Referring to the Chakravyuh structure from the Mahabharata war, he said it involves fear, violence, and was used to trap Abhimanyu, who was killed by six people. He described the Chakravyuh as resembling an inverse lotus.
Rahul said, 'A new Chakravyuh has been formed, shaped like a lotus, which Prime Minister Modi wears proudly. Abhimanyu was killed by six people: Dronacharya, Karna, Kripacharya, Kritavarma, Ashwatthama, and Shakuni. Today, we see six individuals at the center of the Chakravyuh, controlling everything, just like then.'
'You are Not Letting Farmers Escape the Chakravyuh'
The Speaker, Om Birla, reminded Rahul Gandhi not to name people who are not members of the house. Rahul responded by saying that if he shouldn't mention Ajit Doval, Adani, and Ambani, he won't. Rahul accused the Modi government of ensnaring the nation's people in a Chakravyuh, with farmers and youth being the most affected.
He said, 'Farmers, whom you do not let escape this Chakravyuh, have received nothing from you. They asked for one thing—MSP. You have confined them to the borders. Roads are still closed, and no one is willing to talk to them. When they came to meet me, you did not let them inside.
'I Will Tell You the Fact, Sir'
The Speaker stated that Rahul should not tell lies in the house. Rahul replied, 'I will tell you the fact, sir.' The Speaker said, 'Tell your members not to accuse the house. I speak based on the record.' Rahul Gandhi said, 'A delegation of farmers came to meet me. I was told they would not be allowed inside. When I went to meet them, they were allowed in. This is a fact. Maybe there was some miscommunication, but the fact is when I went with the media, the doors of Parliament opened for them.'
'Violation of House Dignity'
Om Birla remarked, 'One should not question the house's procedures. It is the Speaker's jurisdiction to decide who is allowed. When the information came, you met them, but in that process, the house's dignity was violated. Apart from the members, no one else can give a statement in the house, but they did in your presence. Rahul replied that he did not know about this technicality.
This led to a query by Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinet who questioned if farmers were not allowed to speak in Parliament but actresses were. She shared photos of actresses in Parliament on X and wrote, 'Why are these actresses allowed to speak but not farmers? Is this country only for actors, not farmers? These pictures are from September 2023, when many film stars were invited to see the new Parliament even then, Speaker Om Birla was in charge.'
BJP Links 'Chakravyuh' to Insulting Hinduism
Rahul Gandhi’s confrontation was not just with the Speaker. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also condemned Rahul's comments. He said, 'The Parliament represents 140 crore people. It operates on traditions and rules. Rahul Gandhi has been reminded often to abide by the rules but has chosen otherwise. The house, the Constitution, and the nation are above all. Rahul Gandhi did not uphold the dignity of his position.'
The BJP criticized Rahul's analogy of the Chakravyuh and its association with a lotus, interpreting it as an insult to Hinduism, which Rahul denied. However, he made it clear that he would continue to challenge the government based on his agenda.
Rahul Describes 'Tax Terrorism' on the Middle Class
While Prime Minister Modi praised the budget as empowering the middle class, Rahul Gandhi labeled it 'tax terrorism,' burdening the middle class. The budget includes higher taxes on gold, silver, mutual funds, stock markets, and real estate investments. This changes the entire tax scenario, and Rahul used this to target the government, while Modi claimed he has done the most for the middle class.
Rahul Seeks to Penetrate BJP's Strongest Vote Bank
The Congress outperformed the BJP in rural and semi-urban seats. In rural areas, the BJP lost 49 seats compared to 2019, and in semi-urban seats, the BJP received 10 fewer seats than in the previous election. However, this advantage did not extend as much in urban areas. In 2019, the BJP won 35 urban seats, which has now decreased by 4 to 31. Rahul aims to penetrate BJP's strongest vote bank by highlighting the middle class's struggle with 'tax terrorism.'
