New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has frequently faced accusations of dynastic politics from the BJP, has responded to the criticism by pointing to the BJP's own leaders.
When questioned about the BJP's allegations, Gandhi turned the focus towards Amit Shah's son and Rajnath Singh's son, asking what roles they played in politics.
"What does Amit Shah's son do exactly? What does Rajnath Singh's son do? Last I heard Amit Shah's son is campaigning. Be objective. Look at the leaders in the BJP and ask yourself the question what their children are doing. Many of the children are dynasts," he said.
Rahul Gandhi's lineage includes several prominent political figures, including his great-grandfather, grandmother, and father, who all served as Prime Ministers of India. His comments indicate a growing trend in Indian politics where dynastic connections are frequently used as political ammunition.
In 2017, Rahul Gandhi had acknowledged the problem of dynastic politics in India, although he did not cite specific examples.
Amit Shah, a prominent BJP leader, has been one of the most vocal critics of Rahul Gandhi's political lineage. Shah has referred to Gandhi as an "unmeritorious symbol of dynastic politics." He has also previously claimed that dynastic politics, autocracy within families, and caste-based politics are more concerning threats to India's democracy than the alleged dangers highlighted by the Opposition.