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Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, where he claimed to fight both RSS and CPI(M) ideologically, triggered a furore from Left leaders during the INDIA bloc meeting on Saturday.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (Image: PTI/File)
As leaders of 24 opposition parties of the INDIA bloc held an online meeting ahead of the Monsoon session of the Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks equating the RSS and the CPI(M) have triggered a rift in the group, with Left leaders raising the issue during the meeting on Saturday.
Leaders of 24 political parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), NCP-SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), CPI(M), CPI, CPI-ML, Forward Bloc, IUML and Kerala Congress, participated in the discussions on Saturday.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, came under scrutiny for his remarks in Kottayam on Friday, where he said his fight was against both the RSS and the CPI(M). His remarks are significant given that Kerala will go for polls in 2026. While the Left and Congress are adversaries in Kerala, it has been a loyal ally of the grand old party.
“I fight the RSS and CPI(M) ideologically, and I fight them in the realm of ideas. My biggest complaint with them is that they don’t have feelings for people. You can give whatever speeches, but if you don’t feel for people, you are not ready to connect and hug people, you will not be a leader,” he said in the event, sparking backlash from Left parties.
CPI(M) Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi
CPI leader D Raja, without mentioning Gandhi, is learnt to have raised the issue at the INDIA bloc virtual meeting on Saturday and said such statements against the left send wrong signals to its cadres across the country and should be avoided, according to news agency PTI.
Left sources told News18 that, if he wanted, he could attack the government on economic development, but to speak like the BJP is unfair. However, Gandhi’s equation of RSS-CPI(M) has left several leaders dismayed ahead of a crucial Parliament session.
The CPI(M) had earlier hit back at Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of working for the RSS in Kerala. “In his absurd and condemnable comment equating the RSS and CPI(M), Rahul Gandhi forgets who is fighting the RSS in Kerala,” the party said in a statement.
“In Kerala, Congress and RSS continue to echo each other in expressing anti-communist sentiments. As soon as Rahul Gandhi enters Kerala, he speaks that language too.”
CPI(M) MP John Brittas told ANI that Congress’s vacillations had empowered the RSS and called Gandhi’s remarks “unfortunate” that will affect the unity of the opposition alliance.
“Any sensible political being of this country would condemn such a statement. We have been steadfast in our mission to fight RSS tooth and nail. And Rahul Gandhi’s cause should be to take on RSS, ” said Brittas, advising Gandhi to refrain from such “reckless and irresponsible remarks”
INDIA Bloc’s Plans
Meanwhile, the opposition bloc – in the absence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – resolved to raise the issues of the Pahalgam terror attack, US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar during the upcoming parliamentary session.
Opposition leaders also decided to raise eight major issues like foreign policy “failure” and “atrocities” in Gaza, delimitation exercise and the “targeting” of SCs/STs, women and minorities in the country. Sonia Gandhi, Hemant Soren, Sharad Pawar, and Abhishek Banerjee were among the senior leaders who participated in the meeting.
(with inputs from agencies)
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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