NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS on its 100th anniversary, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said “cowardice was at the heart of the ideology of both the outfits” and that “democracy is under attack in India”. Gandhi made the statement during a seminar at a Colombian university on Wednesday.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the democratic system remains crucial for diversity, allowing different traditions, customs, and ideas, including religious beliefs, to thrive. “However, the democratic system in India is under attack, which is a major threat,” he said.
Comparing India and China, he said that India’s diversity requires freedom and inclusivity. “India is a much more complex system, and its strengths are not necessarily similar to China’s but are different. I am very optimistic about India, but at the same time, there are fault lines within the country’s system that it must overcome,” he said.
“Another big risk is the tension between different conceptions in parts of the country. Different ideas, religions, and diversity require space. With 16-17 major languages and many religions, it is crucial to allow these diverse traditions to thrive and give them the space they need,” he added
Taking a swipe at the RSS and the BJP, he said,” If you notice a statement of the foreign minister, he said, ‘China is much more powerful than us. How can I pick a fight with them?’ At the heart of the ideology is cowardice.”
Reiterating his call for a structural overhaul of the country’s manufacturing sector, he said, “Most of the people, for example, who are creating polarisation in the US with Mr Donald Trump are those who lost their jobs because of manufacturing. China has demonstrated to the world how to manage production in a non-democratic setup, but we cannot do that; we are a democratic setup. The challenge is whether we can develop manufacturing like China but within a democratic framework,” he said.
Targeting the Modi government for its education and health policies, Gandhi said that the state must remain involved in both sectors. “In a country like India, simply privatising healthcare and education doesn’t work. We have tried it, but it didn’t work. At least my party and I believe in solid government involvement in these sectors,” he said.