<p>During an interactive session with students and faculty at Georgetown University in Washington DC, US, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke about his rivalry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “You Will Be Surprised… I don’t hate Mr. Modi. He has a point of view; I don’t agree with the point of view, but I don’t hate him. He has a different perspective, and I have a different perspective,” he said. Rahul Gandhi said he had empathy and compassion for what PM Modi does. </p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>I don’t hate Mr. Modi. <br /><br />He has a point of view; I don’t agree with the point of view, but I don’t hate him.<br /><br />He has a different perspective, and I have a different perspective. <br /><br />: Shri <a href=”https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@RahulGandhi</a> at the Georgetown University <br /><br />📍Washington DC <a href=”https://t.co/y3p5OW4CTE”>pic.twitter.com/y3p5OW4CTE</a></p>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href=”https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1833343323492233354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>PM Modi’s Psychological State Deteriorated</strong></h2>
<p>Rahul Gandhi further said that in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi suffered a “psychological collapse”. “He [PM Modi] is a person who was in Gujarat for many years and never faced political adversity. Then, as Prime Minister of India, suddenly, this idea started to crack,” Rahul Gandhi said.</p>
<p>”We knew when he said, ‘I speak directly to God’, that we had actually blown him apart, and that his psychological state had deteriorated. People might think the Prime Minister was just saying, ‘Look, I’m special, I’m unique, and I talk to God.’ But that’s not how we saw it. Internally, we saw it as a psychological collapse. He was thinking, ‘What’s happened here? Why is this not working’,” Rahul Gandhi said during the interaction.</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>My sense halfway through the campaign was that Modi didn’t think he was getting anywhere near 400 seats. Early on, he realized that things were going wrong, and we were getting inputs from the usual sources. Some of the intelligence agencies were also providing us with… <a href=”https://t.co/CNpaAEmsVj”>pic.twitter.com/CNpaAEmsVj</a></p>
— Congress (@INCIndia) <a href=”https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1833337737618903392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>He addressed a range of topics, including the challenges Indian politics is facing, the state of democracy, and the future of the Congress party and its alliances. He shared insights on the India bloc (INDIA) and its vision for the country, while also critiquing the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).</p>
<p>Gandhi emphasised that political ups and downs are a natural part of the process. He noted that the Congress party has the unique ability to reinvent itself, which he believes sets it apart from other political entities in India.</p>
<h2><strong>Lack Of Level Playing Field During Elections</strong></h2>
<p>He pointed to the BJP’s dominance in the electoral system, claiming that institutions such as the media, education system, and investigative agencies are under the control of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP’s ideological parent. Gandhi argued that the lack of a level playing field during elections is a significant challenge, with the BJP enjoying financial advantages and the backing of key institutions.</p>
<p>He also highlighted the issue of caste-based discrimination, stressing the importance of the caste census in understanding the representation and integration of marginalized communities like OBCs (Other Backward Classes), Dalits, and Adivasis in Indian society. According to Gandhi, these communities are largely excluded from ownership in major businesses, media representation, and participation in higher judiciary roles. He expressed concern that the vast majority of India’s population, particularly lower-caste groups, have little to no ownership or influence in key sectors of the country.</p>
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<p>Gandhi also addressed social and cultural issues, including the BJP’s push for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which he said the Congress party has yet to see a concrete proposal on. He emphasised the importance of respecting India’s diverse cultures, religions, and languages, suggesting that the BJP’s vision of the UCC might undermine these values.</p>
<p>Touching on personal freedoms, Gandhi reaffirmed Congress’ commitment to defending the rights of all individuals, including gender and sexual minorities. He stated that everyone should have the right to express themselves and live according to their own beliefs and preferences.</p>