USA (Commonwealth Union)_ While addressing the Indian community in the USA, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated his criticism of the country’s leadership, urging Indians both in the United States and back home to defend democracy and uphold the Indian constitution. Gandhi, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accused them of fostering division within the country and neglecting pressing issues such as unemployment and education.
Addressing a gathering of approximately 700 people at the Indian Overseas Congress USA event in Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Center, the 52-year-old Gandhi stated, “To be nasty to people, to be arrogant, to be violent, these are not Indian values.” His speech followed a minute of silence to honor the victims of a devastating train derailment in eastern India, which claimed the lives of 275 individuals and left hundreds injured.
Gandhi is currently on a three-city tour of the United States, where he delivered speeches at Stanford University in California and the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. In the meantime, U.S. congressional leaders have also extended an invitation to Modi to attend a joint meeting of Congress later this month. According to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and other leaders, the event will be an opportunity for Modi to outline his vision for India’s future and address the global challenges faced by both countries.
Rahul Gandhi, the grandson of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is a member of the Indian National Congress party and is considered Modi’s primary contender in the upcoming 2024 elections. Emphasizing the importance of India’s constitution and democracy, he stated, “Modern India cannot exist without our constitution and our democracy.” He also called for stronger cooperation between India and the United States to counterbalance China’s influence, particularly highlighting the need to address issues related to mobility and global energy supply.
The recent victories of the Congress Party in state elections in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka have provided a boost after a series of defeats following Modi’s assumption of office in 2014. Although Gandhi no longer holds an official position within his party, relinquishing the role of party president after significant losses to Modi’s Hindu nationalist party in the 2019 national elections, his supporters hope that the recent state election results will impact the outcome of the 2024 national elections, which are expected to take place before May.
Gandhi faced a setback in March when a court convicted him in a criminal defamation case for mocking Modi’s surname, resulting in his expulsion from parliament. If his conviction is not overturned by an appeals court, he could be ineligible to contest a parliamentary seat for the next eight years. The conviction stemmed from a speech he delivered in 2019. Further, during his address, Gandhi, who is unrelated to Mahatma Gandhi, invoked the name of the assassinated Indian leader multiple times, praising his philosophy of non-violence.
