Gehlot, the Gandhi family’s troubleshooter, comes to Rahul’s defense
Takes PM Modi to task
The Sunday Mail
New Delhi. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot—often regarded as the troubleshooter for the Gandhi family—stands out as a Congress leader who not only openly defends his leader, Rahul Gandhi, but never misses an opportunity to take Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire BJP to task. Gehlot frequently speaks his mind on various issues. This time, following sharp remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Rahul Gandhi, Gehlot reminded the PM that the Congress has never insulted BJP leaders. On the platform ‘X’, Gehlot stated that respecting dissent in a democracy is in line with the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister and established parliamentary traditions.
“In 1984, when I arrived in Parliament after being elected to the Lok Sabha for the second time, I personally witnessed that even though the Bharatiya Janata Party had only two members in the Lok Sabha, the then-Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha always treated the BJP leaders with the utmost respect.” This has been the beauty of our democracy and the hallmark of the dignity of our parliamentary traditions. It is deeply distressing and disheartening to observe the language used and the taunts directed by the Prime Minister of the country, Shri Narendra Modi, toward the former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi. Such conduct is not only unfortunate but also reveals the political mindset of the BJP leadership and the Prime Minister himself.
In a democracy, while the roles of the ruling party and the opposition are distinct, both deserve equal respect. It is expected that an individual occupying the highest constitutional office—that of the Prime Minister—should respond to issues of public interest raised by the Leader of the Opposition in a factual and serious manner, rather than dismissing them through personal remarks and taunts.
Today, among the people of the country, Mr. Rahul Gandhi has established an identity as a virtuous, fearless, capable, and diligent leader who is committed to his principles. Despite the persistent political attacks and smear campaigns by the BJP, his self-confidence, resilience, and dedication to the public have only grown stronger.
I believe that there is no longer any need for Rahul Gandhi to look back. Guided by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of truth and non-violence, he is moving forward with firm resolve to protect the nation’s Constitution, democracy, and constitutional institutions. His struggle against the perceived arrogance of power and authoritarian tendencies is not merely the struggle of a single political party; rather, it is a fight to safeguard democratic values and the future of the nation. It is also significant that for the last 35 years or so, no member of the Gandhi family has held the office of Prime Minister; yet, the trust reposed in this family by Congress members and people from diverse regions, castes, languages, and religions across the country remains intact. This trust does not stem from any position or power, but is the result of a legacy defined by dedication to the nation, sacrifice, struggle, and a commitment to democratic values.
The Prime Minister should understand that in a democracy,
respecting the opposition is not a sign of weakness, but rather an indication of democratic maturity and political decency. Resorting to personal jibes neither resolves issues of public interest nor succeeds in silencing the voice of the people. The true strength of democracy lies not in the arrogance of power,
but in the respect for dissent, the decorum of dialogue,
and the trust of the people.
