New Delhi, July 2, 2024 — In a heated Lok Sabha session, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling BJP and its affiliates of propagating violence and hatred, contrasting this with the principles of non-violence championed by historical Indian figures. 

"All our great men spoke of non-violence... But those who claim to be Hindus only speak of violence, hatred, lies... You are not Hindus," Gandhi said, addressing the BJP camp.

This statement ignited a fervent response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who accused Gandhi of labeling the entire Hindu society as violent. "This is a very serious matter," Modi remarked.

Gandhi quickly clarified his stance, asserting, "Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society. RSS is not the entire Hindu society. This is not a BJP deal."

During his address, Gandhi displayed a picture of Shivthakur, which Speaker Om Birla noted was against parliamentary rules. Gandhi used the image to emphasize that Hindus should embody fearlessness and compassion, contrasting it with what he described as BJP's spread of fear and hatred.

Gandhi's speech was laden with strong language and criticism of the government. He argued that millions who oppose BJP's vision of India and the centralization of power and wealth face systematic attacks. "I was also attacked. Many of the opposition were personally attacked. Those who opposed the aggression against the poor, Dalits, minorities, and tribals were also tried to be wiped out," Gandhi declared.

The session highlighted the deep ideological divide between the ruling party and the opposition, showcasing the intense political climate as India moves towards the next general elections.