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Rahul Gandhi

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Rahul Gandhi
Gandhi in 2024
12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 June 2024
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded bySushma Swaraj (2014)[a][b]
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 June 2024
Preceded bySonia Gandhi
ConstituencyRae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh
In office
7 August 2023[1] – 17 June 2024
23 May 2019 – 23 March 2023[9]
Preceded byM. I. Shanavas
Succeeded byTBD
ConstituencyWayanad, Kerala
In office
17 May 2004 – 23 May 2019
Preceded bySonia Gandhi
Succeeded bySmriti Irani
ConstituencyAmethi, Uttar Pradesh
Party political offices
President of the Indian National Congress
In office
16 December 2017 – 10 August 2019
Preceded bySonia Gandhi
Succeeded bySonia Gandhi
Vice-President of the Indian National Congress
In office
19 January 2013 – 16 December 2017
PresidentSonia Gandhi
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byposition abolished
General Secretary of Indian National Congress
In office
25 September 2007 – 19 January 2013
PresidentSonia Gandhi
Chairperson of Indian Youth Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 September 2007
Preceded byposition established
Chairperson of National Students' Union of India
In office
25 September 2007 – 26 October 2022
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byMallikarjun Kharge
Personal details
Born
Rahul Rajiv Gandhi

(1970-06-19) 19 June 1970 (age 54)
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
Parent(s)Rajiv Gandhi (father)
Sonia Gandhi (mother)
RelativesPriyanka Gandhi Vadra (sister)
Nehru–Gandhi family
Residence10, Janpath, New Delhi
Alma materRollins College (B.A.)
Trinity College, Cambridge (M. Phil. Development Studies)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Rahul Rajiv Gandhi (Hindi pronunciation: [ˈraːɦʊl raːdʒiːʋ ˈɡaːndʱiː] ⓘ; born 19 June 1970) is an Indian politician. A member of the Indian National Congress (INC), he is currently serving as the 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and as the member of the Lok Sabha for Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, since June 2024.[c][d] He previously represented the constituency of Wayanad, Kerala, from 2019 to 2024, and Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, from 2004 to 2019. Gandhi served as the party president of the Indian National Congress from December 2017 to July 2019 and is the chairperson of the Indian Youth Congress, the National Students Union of India, and a trustee of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. He is a member of the Nehru–Gandhi political family.

Born in New Delhi, Gandhi spent his early years between Delhi and Dehradun, remaining largely outside the public sphere during his childhood and early youth. He received primary education in New Delhi and then attended The Doon School. However, due to security concerns, he was later home-schooled. Gandhi commenced his undergraduate degree at St. Stephen's College before moving to Harvard University. Following his father’s assassination and subsequent security concerns, he moved to Rollins College in Florida, completing his degree in 1994. After earning a M.Phil. from Cambridge, Gandhi initiated his professional career with the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm in London. Soon thereafter, he returned to India and founded Backops Services Private Ltd, a technology outsourcing firm based in Mumbai.

Gandhi led the Congress party during the 2014 and 2019 general elections, where the party experienced significant defeats, securing only 44 and 52 seats, respectively. Ahead of the 2024 Indian general elections, Gandhi spearheaded the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, contributing to the INC winning 99 seats and regaining the status of Official Opposition for the first time in a decade. Gandhi won the Rae Bareli in the 2024 elections and was nominated to serve as Leader of the Opposition. As a member of Parliament of India since 2004, Gandhi has served as a member of several parliamentary committees including Home Affairs, Human Resource Development, External Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs and Defence.

Early life and background

Further information: Nehru–Gandhi family
Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi, then POI Pratibha Patil, then VPOI Ansari, then PM at the memorial of his grandmother Indira Gandhi

Gandhi was born on 19 June 1970 at Holy Family Hospital in Delhi.[12] He was the first of two children born to Rajiv Gandhi, who later served as the 6th Prime Minister of India, and Sonia Gandhi, who went on to become the President of the Indian National Congress. As the grandson of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, his lineage is deeply rooted in Indian political history. His paternal grandfather, Feroze Gandhi, hailed from Gujarat and was of Parsi descent.[13] Furthermore, he is the great-grandson of India's inaugural prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Gandhi completed his elementary education at St. Columba's School in New Delhi.[14] He then attended The Doon School in Dehradun (an elite all-boys' boarding school, also the alma mater of his father, Rajiv Gandhi) from 1981 to 1983.[15] At Doon, Gandhi studied alongside notable contemporaries, including former Congress members Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada.[16][17] Following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by Sikhs in her personal guard on 31 October 1984, his father entered politics and became the 6th Prime Minister of India. Due to security threats from Sikh extremists, Gandhi and his sister Priyanka were home-schooled, taking examinations under the supervision of teachers.[18] Spending their childhood away from media attention, Gandhi and his sister kept low profiles, appearing with their parents at only a handful of public occasions.[19]

Gandhi joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi, an affiliated college of the University of Delhi, in 1989 for his undergraduate education.[20] Gandhi's academic performance in Class XII, with a score of 61 per cent in the CBSE school certificate, was perceived as not particularly strong.[21] He gained admission to St. Stephen’s College for BA (Honors) History through the sports quota, which granted a 10 per cent advantage in exam scores to promising athletes; per National Rifle Association of India testimonials, Gandhi stood 4th in the 32nd National Shooting Competition held in New Delhi from 26 December 1988 to 5 January 1989.[21] Gandhi had finished fourth in the Centre Fire Pistol 25 M (Indian Rule) Men’s civilian event with a score of 371 out of 400 points.[21] By July 1989, Gandhi had won eight national awards. In 1991, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE during an election rally, Gandhi left St. Stephen’s and moved to Harvard University. Due to security concerns, he subsequently relocated to Rollins College in Florida. He further went on to obtain an Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Development Studies, from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1995.[22][23] Following his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991, there was a heightened threat perception to the family, those closest to Gandhi were paranoid about his safety and might have forced him to take cover under the misleading surname "Vinci".[24]

After completing higher education, Gandhi worked at the Monitor Group, a management consulting firm set up by Michael Porter of Harvard Business School, in London for three years.[25] In 2002, he returned to India and established his technology consultancy, Backops Services Private Ltd, in Mumbai, where he served as one of the directors of the firm.[26] Subsequently, he founded BackOps UK, a company that secured defence contracts from foreign suppliers.[27]

Political career

Formative years

Rfer caption
Gandhi (right) with Hillary Clinton, Sonia Gandhi and Karan Singh in New Delhi, 2009

In March 2004, Gandhi announced his entry into politics by declaring that he would contest the 14th general elections from his father's former constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament.[28] His mother had held the seat until she transferred to the neighbouring constituency of Raebareli. When Gandhi made this announcement, it came as a surprise to political commentators, who had perceived his sister Priyanka Gandhi as the more charismatic and probable successor. It generated speculation that the presence of a young member of India's most famous political family would reinvigorate the Congress party's political fortunes among India's youthful population.[29] In his first interview with foreign media, Gandhi portrayed himself as a uniter of the country and condemned "divisive" politics in India, saying that he would try to reduce caste and religious tensions.[30]

After being out of power for a record eight years, the Congress party returned to power, winning a total of 145 seats in the 2004 Indian general election. A coalition government was formed at the center by Congress with the backing of regional parties. Gandhi secured a victory by a substantial margin of over 100,000 votes, thereby maintaining the stronghold of his family in Uttar Pradesh.[31] The party performed poorly in Uttar Pradesh, as it held only 10 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, with a vote share of 12.53 per cent.[32] Gandhi did not hold any official role or position within the government.[33] From 2004 to 2006, Gandhi served as a member for the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. Between 2006 and 2009, he served as the member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development.[34]

Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka, managed their mother's campaign for re-election to Raebareilly in 2006, which was won with a margin of over 400,000 votes.[35] He was a prominent figure in the Congress campaign for the 2007 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election; Congress did not perform well in those elections, winning only 22 seats of the 403 seats with 8.53 per cent of the vote.[36] On 24 September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, the governing body of the Congress party, as part of a reshuffle of the party secretariat.[37] In the same reshuffle, he was also given charge of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India.[38]

Youth politics

In September 2007, Gandhi was appointed as general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), segment of the Congress party that represents the younger generation, and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the faction that caters to the student community.[39] As the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Gandhi played a notable role in shaping the policies and strategies of these organisations. After his appointment, both groups saw a significant increase in membership, from 200,000 to 2.5 million.[40] The IYC underwent a restructuring process to make it more democratic and inclusive.[41][42] In November 2008, Gandhi held interviews at his 12 Tughlak Lane residence in New Delhi to handpick at least 40 people to make up the IYC's think tank.[43] In 2009, during Gandhi's visit to West Bengal, the state unit of the Youth Congress registered 1 million members.[44] Similarly, the IYC only acquired around 10 to 15 new members per day in each assembly segment of Uttar Pradesh. After his visit, the number surged to 150 to 200 new members per day in the same regions.[45]

While serving as the general secretary of the NSUI, Gandhi played an active role in strengthening the organisation and increasing student participation in politics.[41] Under his leadership, the NSUI initiated programs and campaigns to address issues affecting the student community, such as the quality of education, employment opportunities, and social justice.[46][47][48] Gandhi also advocated for greater student representation in decision-making processes and supported student leaders in their endeavours.[49]

General election campaigns (2009-2024)

For the 2009 Indian general election, Gandhi campaigned across India covering 22 states and 107 constituencies.[50][51] His campaigning included addressing public rallies and meetings, interacting with voters, and highlighting the party's vision and agenda for the country.[52] He specifically focused on issues such as rural development, education, employment, and women's empowerment. Gandhi, also emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics and urged them to be more involved in shaping the country's future.[53] The nationwide elections defied the predictions made by pre-poll predictions and exit polls and gave a clear mandate to the incumbent, Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.[54] The 2009 general elections were a success for the INC, which won 206 seats. While the Congress did not win a majority in the election, they emerged as the largest party and formed a coalition government with the support of other parties.[55] Gandhi retained his Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival by a margin of over 370,000 votes.[56] Gandhi was credited with the Congress revival in Uttar Pradesh where they won 21 out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats.[57][58]

Ahead of the 2014 Indian general election, Gandhi was named the Vice President of the Indian National Congress, effectively making him the party’s second-in-command. Gandhi contested the 2014 Indian general election from his constituency, Amethi,[59] and led the election campaign of the Indian National Congress.[60] Gandhi retained the Amethi seat by defeating his nearest rival, BJP's Smriti Irani, by a margin of 107,000 votes.[58][61] However, the Congress party suffered a massive defeat, winning only 44 seats—its worst performance ever in the Lok Sabha elections.[62][63] The UPA also had its worst-ever performance in elections and won only 59 seats, compared to the 262 seats won in 2009.[63][64][65] Following the defeat, Gandhi offered to resign from his positions, but his resignation was rejected by the Congress Working Committee.[66]

Gandhi led the 2019 election campaign of the Congress party. During campaign, Gandhi announced "Nyay" (Nyuntam Aay Yojana— Minimum Income Gurantee) Scheme promising Rs 6,000 each to 20 per cent poorest households to his election speeches.[67] Gandhi also promised to fill 22 lakhs government jobs within one year coming to power at the Centre. Gandhi used the slogan "Chowkidar Chor Hai" as a jibe against Narendra Modi, BJP's prime ministerial candidate during his election rallies.[68][69] The slogan was aimed at Modi about the alleged irregularities and favouritism in awarding the contracts for the Rafale fighter jet deal.[70][71] Post election results the INC won 52 seats, eight more than the previous election. Its vote percentage once again fell below 20 per cent. Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with over 60 per cent vote share.[72] He lost his existing seat of Amethi to Smriti Irani of the BJP by a margin of 55,120 votes.[73]

Ahead of the 2024 Indian general elections, Gandhi spearheaded political initiatives, including the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which were designed to address pressing social and economic issues facing the country. These campaigns aimed to foster unity and counter divisive politics, while also enhancing the visibility of the Indian National Congress (INC) among voters. The INC secured 99 seats in the elections, representing an improvement from previous electoral performances and allowing the party to reclaim the status of Official Opposition for the first time in ten years. In the elections, Gandhi successfully won the Rae Bareli constituency, succeeding his mother, Sonia Gandhi. Following this victory, he was nominated as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, reinforcing his role as a prominent figure within the party and the opposition landscape.

National Herald case

The National Herald case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of funds related to the National Herald newspaper. The case garnered attention when former BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed a complaint accusing Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five other Congress party leaders—Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, and Satyan Pitroda—of cheating and misappropriating funds associated with the National Herald. The allegations by then-BJP leader Subramanian Swamy centered on a loan given by the Congress party to "Associated Journals Limited" (AJL), the company that owned the National Herald newspaper.[74] Subramanian Swamy alleged that the loan, amounting to around ₹90 crore (equivalent to ₹202 crore or US$24 million in 2023), was not repaid. Instead, it was converted into equity, effectively transferring the ownership of AJL to a new company called "Young India Ltd" (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi hold 76 per cent of the company's shares, and the remaining 24 per cent are held by Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes.[74] As per Swamy, YIL only paid ₹54 lakh (equivalent to ₹1.2 crore or US$140,000 in 2023) to get back ₹90 crore that Associated AJL owed to the Congress party. He also alleged that the loan given to AJL was illegal, as it had been taken from party funds.[74]

The case went through various legal proceedings, including hearings in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. In December 2015, the Delhi High Court dismissed the appeals of Sonia Gandhi and five others, ordering them to appear in person before the trial court.[75] In 2015, the Supreme Court of India instructed Swamy to present arguments for expediting the trial in the high court. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were granted bail by the trial court on 19 December 2015. Subsequently, in 2016, the Supreme Court exempted all five accused individuals (including the Gandhis, Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, and Suman Dubey) from personally attending court hearings but declined to dismiss the ongoing legal proceedings against them.[74] In December 2020, the Delhi court dismissed a petition filed by then-BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking to summon Rahul and Sonia Gandhi and others as accused in the case. The court held that there was no prima facie evidence to suggest their involvement in any corruption conspiracy.[76] In 2014, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation into Swamy's complaint to determine if there were any indications of money laundering. The investigation was closed due to technical reasons. Nonetheless, Swamy wrote to prime minister Narendra Modi expressing his suspicions about ED Director Ranjan Katoch. Subsequently, in 2015, Katoch was replaced, and the case was reopened. In December 2015, the Patiala court granted bail to the five individuals accused in the case.[77] The Congress party objected to Swamy's complaint, calling it “vindictive politics”.[78]

Bharat Jodo Yatra (2022–2023)

Main article: Bharat Jodo Yatra
Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra
Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which translates to "Unify India March," was a campaign organised by the Congress party spanning from 2022 to 2023 with the stated primary objective of promoting national unity and solidarity across the various regions of India. It aimed to mobilise support for the INC and its ideology, emphasising themes of patriotism, cultural heritage, and development.[79] Gandhi started the initiative on 7 September 2022 at Kanyakumari after paying tributes to his late father Rajiv Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, and the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.[80] The yatra saw Gandhi along with INC leaders, including members of Parliament and notable personalities, travelling across the country, addressing rallies, conducting public meetings, and interacting with citizens. Throughout the yatra, Gandhi focused on issues such as economic development, social justice, and inclusive governance, aiming to strengthen the party's grassroots presence and reinvigorate its political relevance on the national stage.[81]

The yatra concluded on 29 January 2023 with the unfurling of the tricolour flag at Lal Chowk, Srinagar;[82] it lasted 137 days, covering 4,080 kilometres (2,540 miles) over nearly five months across 12 states and two union territories. During the yatra, the INC elected a new party president and also won a majority in the 2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the first majority the party had won won by itself since 2018. In the subsequent elections in Karnataka and Telangana in 2023, the Congress party achieved a landslide victory, marked by an increase in both the party's vote share and the number of seats compared to the previous elections in the constituencies through which the march had passed.[83]

Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (2024)

Main article: Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
Attendees displaying banners at the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra gathering

From 14 January to 20 March 2024, Gandhi led a second yatra across India from east to west, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra; unlike the previous version, the Yatra was conducted in a hybrid mode.[84]

2023 conviction and stay

Main article: Disqualification of Rahul Gandhi

On 13 April 2019, during a political rally in Kolar, Karnataka, India before the 17th general election, Gandhi made a remark in Hindi, questioning, "Why is it that all thieves, whether it be Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, or Narendra Modi, have Modi in their names?".[85] A speech comparing Narendra Modi with Fugitive Economic Offenders such as Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. A criminal defamation case was filed by Purnesh Modi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Surat West. He alleged that Gandhi had defamed all individuals with the surname Modi. On 16 July 2019, the Surat court excused Gandhi from appearing personally in court due to short notice. On 10 October, he pleaded not guilty in the Surat Court, recording his statements and responding to questions here on 24 June 2021, and again on 29 October. During these appearances, he clarified to the court that he did not intend to defame any community.[86]

On 23 March 2023, Gandhi was convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment under charges of defamation. The day following the conviction, Utpal Kumar Singh, the Lok Sabha Secretary General, announced that Rahul Gandhi would be disqualified as a Member of Parliament representing the Wayanad constituency, effective from 23 March, the date of his conviction. The Secretary General further said that this action was taken under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA), which deals with the disqualification of convicted representatives in India.[87] Gandhi's lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi appealed at the higher court and secured a one-month stay on the sentence.[88] On 5 August, the Supreme Court of India issued a stay on Gandhi's conviction and sentence, handed down by Chief Judicial Magistrate in Surat on 23 March 2023.[89]

The disqualification of Gandhi prompted widespread reactions and responses not only from the Congress party but also from opposition leaders and lawmakers abroad.[90] Legal experts questioned the basis of the charge, as defamation is only actionable against individuals and not a generic class of people.[3] The US House of Representatives, Ro Khanna, Democrat co-chair of the India Caucus, described the removal of Gandhi from parliament as a "deep betrayal" of India’s "deepest values".[91][92] A spokesperson for Germany's foreign ministry stated that Berlin had "acknowledged" the verdict and was monitoring the subsequent steps, including the possibility of an appeal and whether the "suspension of his mandate" was deemed justified.[93] US Senator Chris Van Hollen made a separate comment, stating that the news of the disqualification was "alarming".[94]

Electoral performance

In the 2004 general election, Gandhi contested from Amethi and won, securing 390,179 votes with a vote share of 66.18 per cent. He contested again in the 2009 general election from Amethi, winning with 464,195 votes and a vote share of 71.78 per cent. In the 2014, 2014 general election, he retained his seat in Amethi, winning with 408,651 votes and a vote share of 46.71 per cent. In the 2019 Indian general election, he lost from Amethi, securing 413,394 votes with a vote share of 43.86 per cent. He won from Wayanad in the same election, garnering 706,367 votes with a vote share of 64.67 per cent. In the 2024 general election, Gandhi contested from Wayanad and Rae Bareli and won both garnering 364,422 votes with a vote share of 59.69 per cent and 390,030 votes with a vote share of 66.17 per cent respectively.[95] Top leadership of Congress decided that Gandhi will retain Rae Bareli in the 18th Lok Sabha and Priyanka Gandhi was announced as the Congress candidate for Wayanad bypoll.[96]

Year Election Party Constituency Name Result Votes gained Vote share%
2004 14th Lok Sabha Indian National Congress  Amethi Won 390,179 66.18%
2009 15th Lok Sabha Won 464,195 71.78%
2014 16th Lok Sabha Won 408,651 46.71%
2019 17th Lok Sabha Lost 413,394 43.86%
Wayanad Won 706,367 64.67%
2024 18th Lok Sabha Won 647,445 59.69%
Rae Bareli Won 687,649 66.17%

Positions held

Public offices

In 2004, the Gandhi was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs from 2004 to 2006, as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development from 2006 to 2009.[97] In 2009, they were re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a second term and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, along with being a member of the Consultative Committee on Rural Development.[98][99]

In 2014, Gandhi was elected to the 16th Lok Sabha for a third term and served as a member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs, as well as a member of the Consultative Committee on Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.[97] In 2019, he was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha for a fourth term and served as a member of the Standing Committee on Defence, as well as a member of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs.[100]

Year Description
2004 Elected to 14th Lok Sabha
2009 Elected to 15th Lok Sabha (2nd term)
2014 Elected to 16th Lok Sabha (3rd term)
2019 Elected to 17th Lok Sabha (4th term)
2024 Elected to 18th Lok Sabha (5th term)

Within party

Between 2008 and 2013, Gandhi assumed the role of General Secretary within the Indian National Congress (INC).[101] Since 2007, Gandhi has been the chairperson of both the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), positions he established and currently holds.[102] His tenure as Vice-President of the INC, established in 2013, lasted until 2016, after which the position was abolished.[103] Subsequently, from 2017 to 2019, Gandhi served as the President of the INC, succeeding Sonia Gandhi.[104]

Year Position Preceded by Succeeded by
2008 - 2013 General secretary of INC N/A[e] N/A[f]
2007 - Incumbent (as of 2020) Chairperson of Indian Youth Congress Position established Incumbent
2007 - 2020 Chairperson of NSUI Position established Mallikarjun Kharge
2013 - 2016 Vice president of INC Position established Position abolished
2017 - 2019 President of INC Sonia Gandhi Sonia Gandhi (interim)

Political and social views

National security

68th United States Secretary of State John Kerry with Gandhi at the Roosevelt House in New Delhi.

In December 2010, during the United States diplomatic cables leak, WikiLeaks leaked a cable dated 3 August 2009 after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had hosted a lunch on 20 July 2009 for Gandhi, then the General Secretary of the AICC. One of the guests who was invited for the lunch was the United States Ambassador to India, Timothy J. Roemer. In a "candid conversation" with Roemer, he said that he believes Hindu extremists pose a greater threat to his country than Muslim militants. Gandhi referred specifically to more-polarising figures in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also responding to the ambassador's query about the activities in the region by the Islamist militant organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim population.[105] In a response to this, the BJP heavily criticised Gandhi for his statements. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed Gandhi, saying that his language was a bigger threat to India, dividing the people of the country on communal grounds. Speaking to reporters, Prasad said, "In one stroke Mr. Rahul Gandhi has sought to give a big leverage to the propaganda to all the extremist and terrorist groups in Pakistan and also some segments of the Pakistani establishment. It would also seriously compromise India's fight against terror as also our strategic security." Adding that terrorism has no religion, he claimed that Rahul Gandhi had shown his lack of understanding India.[106] Gandhi has also been critical of groups like the RSS and has compared them to terrorist organisations like SIMI.[107][108]

Gandhi with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

After the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots at a Madhya Pradesh election rally in Indore, Gandhi claimed that a police officer told him that Pakistan's military intelligence service, ISI, was trying to recruit disgruntled riot-affected youngsters.[109][110] The district administration, Uttar Pradesh state government, Union Home Ministry, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) denied any such development.[111][112] This remark drew heavy criticism from various political outfits such as BJP, SP, CPI and JD(U).[113] Congress's Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi needed to apologise to the Muslim community for this remark.[114] In reply to the ECI's show-cause notice to explain why action should not be initiated against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct, Gandhi said that he didn't intend to exploit communal sentiments but was referring to divisive politics.[115]


Farmers and land agitation

Rahul Gandhi with Senior Congress leaders
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sits next to Gandhi who leads a delegation of leaders from Bundelkhand region in New Delhi. 2009

On 19 April 2015 Gandhi addressed the farmer and worker's rally, named as Kisan Khet Mazdoor Rally in Ramlila Maidan. Here he made "references to his agitations in Niyamgiri in Orissa and Bhatta-Parsaul in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh".[116] The rally was attended by 100,000 people. In the speech he gave, he criticised the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi about his comment in Toronto where he said that he was "cleaning the mess created by previous governments".[117] He also said, "Do you know how Modi won the election?... He borrowed thousands of crores from industrialists for his several campaigns and advertisements. How will he pay them back? He will pay them back with your land. He will give your land to his industrialist friends."[116]

He razzed the government as a "suit-boot government", a reference to Modi's monogrammed suit which he wore in the Republic Day meeting with Barack Obama. Moreover, he used the "acche din government" jibe (which was Modi's election campaign slogan meaning "good days government") and mentioned that it had "failed the country".[118]

A land bill was introduced by the BJP government in the parliament in May which was criticised by the opposition parties.[119] Accusing the government of "murdering" UPA's land bill,[120] Gandhi promised to prevent the bill from being passed, if not in the parliament then would "stop you [ BJP government] on streets". He further accused the government of diluting the bill and called it "anti-farmer".[119] Gandhi also drew a parallel between "daylight robbery" and the bill.[121] On 26 May, the day of the Modi government's first anniversary, Gandhi commented at a rally in Kozhikode "Unfortunately, birthday celebrations is only for a few powerful friends of the government. Kisan, farmers and mazdoor have nothing to celebrate."[122]

Women's empowerment and LGBTQ rights

"India will be truly successful only when women occupy equal space in our society. They must take their rightful place in politics and shape India's destiny."

Gandhi's remarks on Women empowerment.[123]

Gandhi has spoken publicly about the importance of women's empowerment and gender equality in India.[124][125] While inaugurating 'Utsaah', a Kerala Mahila Congress convention in Kochi, Gandhi stated that the Congress party would actively promote women within its organizational structure and set a target to have 50 per cent of women as chief ministers within the next 10 years. Gandhi initiated the Self-Help Groups amongthe women in the villages of Amethi.[126] The primary focus of this scheme was to bring women together and empower them with information and decision making capabilities.[127] He has called for increased representation of women in politics and for the eradication of gender-based violence.[128][129][130] Under the second Manmohan Singh ministry, a Women's Reservation Bill to require that a third of Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly seats be reserved for women was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Gandhi backed the bill, stating, "Women do not need any protection. If you give them their rights, they can protect themselves".[131] This bill passed the Rajya Sabha on 9 March 2010, but it never received a vote in the Lok Sabha and eventually lapsed due to its pending status.[132][133][134][135] In 2019, while addressing students in Chennai, Gandhi again called for 33 per cent reservation of all parliamentary Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly seats for women, as well as government jobs.[136]

On 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India revoked Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, an act which criminalised homosexual sex between adults. Gandhi supported this move, stating that he believed that issues related to personal freedom should be left to the individual.[137] He opined that it's essential to uphold the constitutional guarantee of life and liberty to all citizens of India.[138]

Climate and energy

Gandhi advocates the transition to renewable energy sources and has called for increased investment in solar, wind, and other sustainable energy technologies.[139] He has been very concerned about the environmental degradation of the world and has said that unless environmental problems are made a political issue, they will not get the attention they deserve.[140][141]

Gandhi criticised the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020 draft by calling it "dangerous" and said that its long term consequences will be harmful. Calling it a disaster, he said that it will silence the communities who will be directly impacted by environmental degradation.[142][143]

Economic Issues

Gandhi at Stanford University
Gandhi at Stanford University in May 2023, delivers address on India’s democracy, United States relationship

Gandhi while addressing All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Jaipur, called for an end to red tape and outdated laws that slow job creation.[144] Gandhi views the economic policies of Modi Government as fundamentally to benefit the 2-3 billionaires and has described them as crony capitalists.[145] Calling the "crony capitalists" as best friends of Modi, he has been critical of the privatisation of government assets.[146][147] He is of the view that RSS and crony capitalists are colluding to control India.[148] He has been specifically harsh on Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, to whom he said the Modi Government has been very favourable.[149][150][151] He sees the rise of Adani as a direct consequence of crony capitalism.[152][153] He said that he is not anti-business and supports fairness.[154] Disagreeing with privatisation of PSUs, he said that Congress will not allow the privatisation if it comes to power.[155][156][157] Citing the report on inequality by Oxfam, he said that rising economic inequality is the result of Modi Government's economic policies.[158][159][160]

Demonetization

Gandhi has been very critical of the Modi government's demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes of the Mahatma Gandhi Series.[161] He has called it a "tragedy" and a "disaster" that has negatively impacted the Indian economy and the lives of ordinary citizens. Gandhi has also accused the government of carrying out the policy without adequate planning and causing immense hardship to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. He said that demonetisation is a fundamental failure of policy design[162] and has alleged that it was a deliberate move by "PayPM" to help 2-3 billionaires to monopolise the economy. Terming demonetisation as the country's “biggest scam”,[163]

During his public speeches and political rallies, Gandhi has consistently criticised the demonetisation move, claiming that it failed to achieve its intended objectives of combating black money and curbing corruption.[164] He has also argued that the policy was implemented without proper consultation with experts or the opposition parties. Gandhi further asserted that, demonetisation caused significant disruption to farmers, and rendered millions jobless in small and medium-sized businesses, and workers in the informal sector.[165][166]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ This position was vacant from 26 May 2014 to 9 June 2024.
  2. ^ Succeeded Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as Leader of INC in LS.
  3. ^ Top leadership of Congress decided that Gandhi will retain Rae Bareli in the 18th Lok Sabha and Priyanka Gandhi was announced as the Congress candidate for Wayanad bypoll.
  4. ^ Rahul Gandhi was selected as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha by Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance on 25 June.[10] But Lok Sabha Speaker recognised him as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha effective since 9 June.[11]
  5. ^ Multi-members position typically appointed by the party president
  6. ^ Multi-members position typically appointed by the party president

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Further reading

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Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
09 June 2024 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by President
Indian National Congress
2017–2019 		Succeeded by
Lok Sabha
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Amethi
2004–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Wayanad
2019–2024 		Vacant
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Rae Bareli
2024–present 		Incumbent
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