Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of marginalising minorities, Adivasis and Dalits and said India must ensure that every citizen feels they belong to the country.
Addressing a gathering titled ‘Hara Bhara Swaraj’ organised to mark the 82nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said the country needed to reverse what he described as the exclusion of different social groups.
“The BJP tells Muslims, Christians and Sikhs that they don’t exist. BJP tells Adivasis that their land will be taken, and if they protest, they will be shot. BJP tells Dalits that their oppression doesn’t matter,” he said.
“This is what has been done to our country. That needs to be reversed,” he added.
‘Everyone Must Feel They Belong Here’
Rahul Gandhi said the country must create an environment where people are respected irrespective of their identity.
“Every single person, regardless of religion, caste, age, or gender, must feel: I belong here. I am loved here. I am respected here. And my search for truth matters,” he said.
He also spoke about the idea of Swaraj, saying the concept is deeply rooted in Indian thought and should not simply be translated as “freedom”.
According to Rahul Gandhi, Swaraj means “ruling over oneself”. He said while freedom could be given to another person, Swaraj was something an individual had to discover for themselves.
Rahul Gandhi Invokes Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision
The Congress leader said Mahatma Gandhi believed every individual and every living being was unique and had their own path towards truth.
He argued that this vision could not be achieved without changes in education, examinations, the financial system and politics.
“It cannot exist with an education system that is as expensive as it is. It cannot exist with a testing system that is as unfair as it is. It cannot exist with a financial system that is monopolised by two or three people,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He also called for a political system that reaches people across the country.
‘Respect Students’ Aspirations’
Speaking directly to students and young people, Rahul Gandhi said they should have the freedom to choose their own careers and pursue their ambitions.
“You want to be an engineer, a cook, or a shoemaker. Good for you, be a shoemaker. You want to be an astronaut. Good for you, be that,” he said.
He added that the government’s responsibility was to create opportunities for young people rather than restrict their ambitions.
“It is the job of the government and the country to open the doors to your imagination,” he said, describing this as part of Gandhi’s vision of Swaraj.
‘They Have Decided They Know the Truth’
Rahul Gandhi also described the current political contest in India as an ideological battle over who gets to define truth.
“Today, the ideological battle in India is this: a group of people who control the system have decided that they know the truth for everyone in this country,” he said.
He alleged that this was why students were being targeted.
Rahul Gandhi said his approach was different, arguing that young people should be heard rather than told what to believe.
“If a student comes to me, I believe this: they know their truth better than I ever can. My job is to listen, to respect it, to understand it. That is the political fight we are in,” he said.
