Washington: Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has launched a scathing critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political strategies and raised serious concerns about the integrity of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, speaking to students at Georgetown University, Gandhi argued that the political circumstances that facilitated Modi’s rise to power in 2014 have significantly changed by 2024. He expressed skepticism about Modi’s stated goal of securing over 400 seats in the next general elections, deeming it unrealistic based on the current political climate. Gandhi emphasized that even achieving a majority of 240 seats would be a challenge for Modi without manipulation.
Gandhi accused the Modi administration of exerting undue influence over various institutions, including the media, educational bodies, and investigative agencies, to skew the electoral process in their favor. He specifically criticized the Election Commission of India for allegedly structuring the campaign to disproportionately benefit Modi, allowing widespread promotion of his agenda.
Highlighting a shift in public perception, Gandhi noted that the coalition which once supported Modi is now fragmented, leading to doubts about the government’s effectiveness. He condemned the use of caste-based politics in India, stating that such tactics threaten the constitutional integrity and stability of the country.
Further addressing the Indian community in Virginia, Gandhi framed the ongoing political battle in India as a fight for religious freedom and regional identity, rather than just governance. He accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of promoting a divisive hierarchy that places some states, languages, religions, and communities above others, potentially undermining India’s diversity.
Gandhi closed his remarks by posing a critical question about India’s future, questioning whether it will be a nation that supports free expression of beliefs and identities or one dominated by a selective group dictating terms to the rest.