New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement that India achieved "true independence" only after the consecration of the Ram temple, calling it treasonous and insulting to every Indian. Gandhi, speaking at the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters, said Bhagwat’s comment undermined the country’s 1947 independence and the Constitution, adding that such remarks questioned the legitimacy of the freedom struggle.
Gandhi stated that Bhagwat’s remark implied the Constitution and India’s fight against British rule were invalid. He said, "What he said yesterday is treason, and in any other country, he would be arrested for such a statement."
The former Congress president also accused the BJP and RSS of capturing key institutions and using investigative agencies to target opposition leaders. He said Congress workers were fighting against these forces under difficult conditions.
Addressing the Election Commission (EC), Gandhi raised concerns about a surge in the number of voters in Maharashtra between the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. He criticized the EC for not providing transparency on the increase, calling it a "serious problem" in the election system.
Gandhi also reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to India’s progress, stating that the party's success has been built on the principles of the Constitution, and emphasized the importance of spreading these ideas nationwide. He concluded by asserting that Congress is the only party capable of countering attacks on India’s core values.
With PTI inputs