Rahul Gandhi Calls for Love, Respect, and Humility in Indian Politics During US Address

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the Indian American community in Dallas, Texas. He harped on the need to have more compassionate values in Indian politics. He attacked the RSS ideology and asked for protection of diverse constitutional values set up by India. 

Gandhi Advocates Constitutional Values and Diversity

He contrasted the RSS view of India as “one idea” with his own view of India as a “multiplicity of ideas.” He has asserted that everyone should have the right to contribute, dream about, and have room in this country, whatever their caste, language, religion, tradition, or history. For this, Gandhi argued, was enshrined in the Constitution of India and that the recent election results were a reflection of the people’s verdict against the attempts at an assault on these values.

Gandhi congratulated the Indian electorate for being able to identify and oppose what he saw as an attempt to undermine the Constitution: “The people were saying the BJP is attacking our tradition, attacking our language, etc. What they understood was that anybody who is attacking the Constitution of India is also attacking our religious tradition.”

Emphasizing the Role of Indian Diaspora in US-India Relations

The Congress leader also spoke to the vital contribution of Indian Americans to the relationship between India and the United States. He called the diaspora community a “bridge” between the two countries, urging them to feel free to carry ideas between their two homes.

“You play a very vital role because the relations between these two unions are going to determine the fate of both” countries, Gandhi said after underscoring the significance of the US-India relationship.

Gandhi’s address comes when he has only recently assumed the mantle of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The value addition that he feels he needs across party lines, which he projects through his message, is the need to inject some love, respect, and humility into Indian politics.