Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized Rahul Gandhi’s display of religious posters during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
On Tuesday, Modi accused Gandhi and the opposition of conspiring to falsely portray Hindus as violent, stating, “Jiske darshan hote hai uske pradarshan nahi hote hai” (the deity who is worshipped and sought should not be used for publicity). He added, “Today, there is a conspiracy to falsely accuse Hindus. This country will not forget it for centuries.”
PM Modi condemned the opposition’s alleged disrespect towards Hindu traditions and symbols. He claimed there were attempts to link Hinduism with terrorism and said derogatory remarks against Hindu deities hurt the sentiments of 1.4 billion people.
“We have been taught since childhood that every form is a manifestation of God. No form of God exists for personal gain,” Modi said, accusing the opposition of insulting gods and goddesses.
“The country cannot forgive the mockery of the forms of God for personal political gain. Watching the scenes of yesterday’s assembly, now Hindu society will have to think whether this is a preparation for some experiment,” PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha.
On Monday, during the motion of thanks for the President’s address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government, alleging there has been “a systematic attack” on the idea of India.
Gandhi likened the Congress party’s symbol to ‘Abhayamudra’ and accused the BJP of promoting violence and hatred while distorting Hinduism’s true principles of non-violence and peace.
“Abhayamudra is the symbol of Congress… The Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and other Indian religions… All our great men have spoken about non-violence and eliminating fear… But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, and untruth… Aap Hindu ho hi nahi,” the Congress leader said.
