On Monday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi delivered his maiden speech as the leader of the opposition in Parliament. Responding to the President's address, Rahul showcased a picture of Lord Shiva and stated, 'Shiva tells us not to fear, not to scare others.' In his address, he also referenced teachings from Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism.
Rahul began by saying that some of our leaders are imprisoned, but one has been released. People are being intimidated and threatened. He mentioned enjoying the 55-hour inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate, expressing, 'I've defended the idea of India.'
When Rahul presented Lord Shiva's image in the house
Drawing attention during his speech, Rahul Gandhi waved Lord Shiva's portrait. This act prompted Speaker Om Birla to point to the rule book as a reminder. Gandhi wondered aloud whether even Lord Shiva's image was prohibited in the assembly, initiating a debate on what symbols or images can be exhibited within Parliament.
He saw Lord Shiva as a source of inspiration, highlighting his message of non-violence and truth. 'We focus on defending the truth without violence. This nation is not about fear; it is about non-violence. We are non-violent by nature,' he explained.
Gandhi related this message across religions, noting the stance of Guru Nanak against fear and violence, the invoking of peace in Islam's prayers, and the teachings of Christ and Buddha on compassion and nonviolence.
Congress, in a state of fearless resolve
Gandhi criticized the fake cases against him and the intimidation tactics towards political leaders, especially those advocating for the OBC, SC, and ST communities. He drew parallels between Congress's current fearless state and Lord Shiva's gesture of reassurance.
Gandhi asserted that leaders declaring themselves Hindus were, in fact, spreading violence and hate continuously, challenging the true essence of Hinduism which stands for truth and non-violence.
Outcry over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Hinduism in the session
During his speech, Gandhi stated that Prime Minister Modi had once mentioned that India never attacks others as it is a nation of non-violence that does not fear. He found fault in the current narrative of Hinduism presented by some, which contradicts the peaceful teachings of Lord Shiva. Prime Minister Modi stood up to address the significance of the topic and to contest the portrayal of Hindus as violent.
Gandhi pointed out RSS, BJP, and PM Narendra Modi are not representative of the entire Hindu community and that there are many Hindus in the house and across the nation.
The heated atmosphere only intensified with the homes minister's remarks, insisting that Gandhi owed an apology for his statements, highlighting the millions who take pride in being Hindus.
Gandhi also broached issues such as the microphone being seemingly switched off during his presentation and critiqued the government's handling of issues concerning various states, economic decisions, and farmers' plights.
He strongly opposed the Agniveer scheme, labeling Agniveers as disposable workers without honored status, and pledged to revoke the program if his government came to power.
The debate surged around the NEET exam and the trust issues in the examination system, with Gandhi arguing that the fear of failure and corruption has seeped into the lives of students, jeopardizing their future.
Ultimately, exchanges between Gandhi and the speaker, regarding the respect shown towards the prime minister, underscored the high tension and diverging viewpoints present in the session.
