The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh – responded strongly to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s speech in Parliament on Monday, accusing him of insulting all Hindus. This came after Gandhi’s fierce attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, during his first speech as Leader of the Opposition.

Armed with a copy of the Constitution and photos of religious figures, including Lord Shiva, Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP. In response, PM Modi rose twice to rebut his remarks, emphasizing the seriousness of calling the entire Hindu society violent.

Modi’s second intervention drew jeers from the opposition. He stated that the Constitution had taught him to respect the post of the Leader of the Opposition, currently held by Gandhi. The opposition jeered because they claimed the government was trying to subvert the Constitution, a charge the BJP denies.

Gandhi began his speech by accusing the government of a systematic assault on the idea of India, the Constitution, and those resisting this assault. He claimed many opposition leaders were personally attacked, with some still in jail, referring to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail over the liquor policy case.

Gandhi also displayed images of Guru Nanak Dev and highlighted the commonality in their popular poses – the outward-facing right hand, which is also the Congress’s symbol. He asserted that the ‘abhaya mudra,’ a gesture of safety, is a symbol of the Congress and teaches the dispelling of fear across religions.

Home Minister Amit Shah, in his response, stated that connecting violence with any religion is wrong and demanded an apology from Gandhi for his remarks. Shah also invoked the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.

BJP chief JP Nadda accused Gandhi of lying and harboring Hindu hatred, demanding an immediate apology. Nadda also criticized Gandhi’s lack of understanding of Parliamentary norms and his poor discourse level.

In the Rajya Sabha, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge led the opposition in clashing with Nadda over issues like NEET medical entrance test irregularities and the relocation of national leaders’ statues within the Parliament complex. The opposition has frequently complained about not being allowed to speak or criticize the government during Parliament sessions.