Rahul Gandhi's 'Anti-Hindu' Remark, Speech On Minorities, Agniveer Scheme, Adani-Ambani Expunged

New Delhi: The portions of controversial statements made by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on a range of topics including the minorities, Agniveer Scheme and Hindus, have been expunged from the Parliament. 

The Congress MP, during his first speech as the Leader of Lok Sabha, accused the NDA camp leaders of dividing people on the communal lines, triggering massive protests from the treasury benches. Such was the commotion over his remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to slam the former for calling the entire Hindu community ‘violent.’ 

Rahul Gandhi whipped out pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ, and referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of fearlessness. He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and the teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people say, "daro mat, darao mat" (do not be scared, do not scare others)".

“All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear...But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth…Aap Hindu ho hi nahi,” the Congress MP said. PM Modi intervened, stating that calling the entire Hindu society violent is a serious issue.  

Parts of Rahul Gandhi's Speech Expunged 

The ‘false and baseless’ statements made by Rahul Gandhi that got stroked off from the Parliament record were his charges on the BJP that the party is treating minorities unfairly, his remarks on industrialists Adani and Ambani, his accusations that the entire exam in Kota is centralised to favour the rich, and that the Agniveer Scheme is not of the Indian Army, but of the PMO (Prime Minister's Office).

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the idea of the Agniveer scheme came from the PMO, not the Indian Army, and that it was the brainchild of the Prime Minister, similar to demonetisation. Countering him for making statements ‘without information,’ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that 158 organisations had given suggestions to implement the scheme. 

Singh added that similar schemes have been implemented in the USA and UK and requested the Speaker that his address be deleted from the House proceedings. The speech has been expunged from the Parliament record, claimed sources. 

Rahul's ‘Minority’ Remark Draws BJP's Ire

Responding to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Rahul Gandhi utilised Parliament's podium to allege that failures of the government on various fronts were because the BJP-RSS family was obsessed with spreading fear among different sections of the population, including the political class in the opposition, and perpetuating hate against minorities, farmers, Dalits and backward classes. 

Rahul Gandhi's statement claiming that the BJP is treating minorities unfairly has also been expunged.

Besides PM Modi, who intervened twice to counter the Congress leader, at least five cabinet ministers including Kiren Rijiju, Rajnath Singh and others interjected during his speech, with Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an apology from him.