Rahul Gandhi calls BJP-RSS ‘bunch of jokers’; BJP hits back with ‘arrogance’ barb

On Thursday, during the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention, Rahul Gandhi hurled insults at the BJP and RSS, branding them a "bunch of jokers" with no understanding of India. He displayed an affectionate gesture towards a party colleague, mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy as being "all about hugging". In response, the BJP accused Rahul of creating chaos in parliamentary proceedings through "arrogance, indiscipline, and obstinacy," condemning the hug episode as "vulgar" and a "new low in public discourse".

Rahul claimed the Opposition was battling people with a poor grasp of India's philosophy and history, stating "a lot of people in India are behaving like cowards. But you're fighting a bunch of jokers, clowns who have no idea about our philosophy, no idea about our history." The BJP also criticized Rahul for suggesting that the RSS was controlled by billionaires Adani and Ambani, and for alleging that the organization, originally representing small Indian businessmen, had long stopped representing them.

Vanathi Srinivasan, the BJP national Mahila Morcha president, condemned Rahul's remarks, stating that while criticism is a political party's right, "insulting women and reducing public life to vulgar jokes is not." Minister of State for Education and Development of North-Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar also condemned Rahul's comments as "deeply disgraceful."