Rahul Gandhi Emphasizes the Need for Love, Respect, and Humility in Indian Politics

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, currently visiting the United States, addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Dallas, Texas. In his speech, Gandhi expressed that his primary role in Indian politics is to promote values such as love, respect, and humility. He noted that these qualities are essential in shaping a healthy political environment.

“I see my role as Leader of Opposition is to inject the values of love, respect, and humility in Indian politics and all political parties,” Gandhi told the crowd. His comments come at a time when he is attempting to rally support from the Indian diaspora while continuing his strong opposition to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While addressing the Indian community, Gandhi pointed out that many of them share the same values that he seeks to promote in Indian politics. “I am speaking to Dallas, and who are you? You are people who have come from India, and the values that I have been describing—the values of the Constitution, respect, and humility—are in your heart, in your blood. You came to this country not with arrogance but with humility and love,” he remarked.

The Congress leader highlighted the important relationship between India and the United States. He emphasized that the bond between the two nations is crucial for both sides. “The US needs India, and India needs the US. You are the bridge between your old home and your new home. You should bring the ideas of India to the US and the ideas of the US to India,” Gandhi told the audience.

Gandhi took a moment to reflect on India’s national anthem, noting that it represents all states equally, without ranking one above the other. He connected this idea to the Indian Constitution. “Our Constitution clearly states that ‘India, that is Bharat, is a Union of States’—very much like the United States. We share the fact that we are the two biggest democracies and also that we are unions of states,” he explained.

Gandhi was particularly critical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP, as well as Prime Minister Modi. He accused the RSS of having a narrow view of India’s diversity. “The RSS believes that India is one idea, but we believe it is a multiplicity of ideas. Everyone should be allowed to participate and dream, regardless of their caste, language, religion, tradition, or history,” Gandhi stated, highlighting the Congress Party’s vision of an inclusive India.

“This is the fight,” he continued. “The fight was crystallised in the election when millions of people in India clearly understood that the Prime Minister of India was attacking the Constitution of India. The Union of States and respect for languages, religions, traditions, and caste are all in the Constitution. The foundation of modern India is the Constitution.”

During his speech, Gandhi argued that the BJP’s actions are undermining India’s Constitution. He warned that attacking the Constitution would also be an attack on India’s diverse religious traditions. “People understood that the BJP is attacking our tradition, language, states, histories, and most importantly, what they understood was that anybody who is attacking the Constitution of India is also attacking our religious tradition,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi referred to his first speech in Parliament, during which he mentioned “Abhayamudra,” a gesture symbolizing fearlessness that, according to him, is present in all Indian religions. “That is why, in my first speech in the Parliament, you must have noticed when I described Abhayamudra, the fact that this is a symbol of fearlessness, and it is present in every single Indian religion,” he told the audience, highlighting the deep cultural and religious significance of this symbol.

Continuing his criticism of the ruling BJP, Gandhi accused the party of failing to understand the essence of India’s religious and cultural diversity. “But the BJP doesn’t understand this, and we are going to make them understand,” he added, delivering a sharp rebuke to the current government.

Gandhi also pointed to a shift in public sentiment after recent elections. He claimed that the fear of the BJP, which had loomed large over the Indian political landscape, had dissipated following the results. “The other thing that happened was that the fear of the BJP vanished. We saw that immediately, within minutes of the election result, nobody in India was scared of the BJP or the Prime Minister of India. So these are huge achievements, not of Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party. We are peripheral,” he said, attributing this change to the people of India, rather than his own political efforts.

“These are huge achievements of the people of India who realised that we are not going to accept an attack on our Constitution. We are not going to accept an attack on our religion, on our state,” Gandhi stated. His remarks underscore his belief that the electorate in India is growing increasingly aware of the BJP’s alleged attempts to undermine the country’s democratic and constitutional principles.

Throughout his speech, Gandhi maintained a focus on the importance of constitutional values and inclusivity, positioning himself and the Congress Party as defenders of India’s democratic fabric. His visit to the United States and engagement with the Indian diaspora are part of a broader effort to consolidate support for his vision of a more inclusive and democratic India.

As Gandhi continues his three-day visit to the U.S., his message remains clear: he seeks to promote love, respect, and humility in Indian politics while standing firmly against what he views as the BJP’s assault on the Constitution and the nation’s diversity. His engagement with the diaspora not only emphasizes the importance of the India-U.S. relationship but also calls on Indians living abroad to help foster a stronger connection between their homeland and their new country.