Rahul Gandhi calls for an ‘India for all’ with space, respect for every faith, language, community

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had some choice words for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-RSS at the AICC’s Nyaypath session in Ahmedabad today, 9 April, Wednesday.

One of his key contentions was that the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is a direct assault on the Constitution and the freedom of religion it is meant to enshrine.

“This is not just about Muslims. First, it’s waqf lands. Next, it will be Christian lands. After that, Sikhs. The RSS agenda is clear,” Gandhi said, citing the RSS mouthpiece Organiser. “The Waqf Bill is anti-Constitutional and a blow to religious freedom.”

This, Gandhi suggested, was of a piece with the BJP of systematically dismantling various constitutional institutions. He warned, however, that a political and economic storm was brewing.

“They cannot destroy the Constitution openly, so they are doing it from the shadows. But make no mistake — a storm is coming,” he said.

In contrast to the BJP, he added, the Congress wants that “every community, religion and language should get respect and have a place in this country, [for] this country belongs to all its people”.

Recalling that the RSS had opposed the Constitution from the very beginning, Gandhi said, “When the Constitution was adopted, RSS workers burned its copies at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan.”

Gandhi also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on India’s recent economic troubles thanks to the US tariff regime, and questioned his much-publicised ties with POTUS Donald Trump.

“Where is Modi hiding now? He used to hug Trump. Now Trump has imposed tariffs on India, and Modi says nothing. Crores of jobs are at risk,” he warned, highlighting growing unemployment and economic uncertainty.

He further slammed the Modi government for handing over national assets — from ports and airports to defence and cement industries — to industrialists like Adani and Ambani.

“Lakhs of public sector jobs are vanishing. This is wholesale privatisation for a few friends,” Gandhi alleged.

In contrast to Modi and his alignment with capitalists and right-wing leaders of other nations, he held up Indira Gandhi, who was asked whether she leaned Left or Right — and responded that as the prime minister of Independent India, she stood only upright.

Reaffirming the Congress' ideological commitment, Gandhi said only his party could take on and defeat the BJP-RSS combine. “This is a battle of ideas — the Constitution versus the Sangh’s hate-driven agenda.”

Gandhi also reiterated the Congress’ promise to conduct a nationwide caste census.

Citing Telangana, where the Congress government increased OBC reservation to 42 per cent, informed by its recent caste survey, Gandhi highlighted that 90 per cent of India’s population — including Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs, minorities and the poor — remains excluded from power.

He spoke also of the anti-Dalit, casteist mentality of the BJP, citing the recent incident of a BJP legislator feeling moved to 'purify' a temple with Ganga-jal following a visit from a Dalit Congress leader.

Finally, he promised internal reforms in the party, saying district congress committees and their presidents would be further empowered and enabled to become the backbone of the organisation. “They will form the foundation of the new Congress,” he declared. 

He did also warn the party leaders and workers that the sangharsh, the fight ahead, to safeguard India’s constitutional values, the basic structure of the Constitution, would not be easy.

However, he concluded, "They [the Sangh Parivar] have everything at their disposal; but we have truth and the love of the people on our side," Gandhi said.

Gandhi was speaking soon after the Congress adopted its AICC resolution.