During his first overseas visit as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to the United States, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday remarked that following this year’s Lok Sabha election results, the fear of the BJP among the people had dissipated. He also highlighted that people had become aware that they would not accept any attacks on the Constitution, religions, or states.
Speaking to the Indian diaspora in Dallas, Gandhi said, “During the election, it became clear to the people, and I witnessed it firsthand. When I raised the issue of the Constitution, people understood that the BJP was attacking our traditions, languages, states, and histories. Most importantly, they realized that an attack on the Constitution is also an attack on our religious traditions. That’s why, in my first speech in Parliament, I referred to the Abhay Mudra—the symbol of fearlessness, present in every Indian religion.”
He added, “In every Indian faith, the hand raised in Abhay Mudra symbolizes fearlessness. Whether it’s Guru Nanak Ji or Lord Shiva, this gesture is part of our spiritual heritage. The BJP couldn’t stand it when I pointed this out because they don’t understand it. But we are going to make them understand.”
“The other remarkable thing that happened was how quickly it unfolded. I was truly amazed. The fear of the BJP just vanished. Within minutes of the election results, no one in India was afraid of the BJP or the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). This is a significant achievement for the people of India, who have realized they will not tolerate attacks on the Constitution, religions, and states,” he remarked.
Rahul Gandhi is on a four-day unofficial visit to the US, where he will engage with the Indian diaspora and the youth, making stops in Dallas, Texas, and Washington DC. He is also scheduled to meet lawmakers and senior US officials during his stay in Washington, starting Monday.
Referring to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Gandhi said the organization views India as a singular idea, while “we believe India is a diversity of ideas.”
“We believe in inclusion, where everyone is free to participate and pursue their dreams. People should be given space, irrespective of caste, language, religion, tradition, or history. This is the core of the fight, and it became clear during the elections, as millions in India recognized that the Prime Minister is attacking the very foundation of our Constitution,” Gandhi stated.
Speaking about his role as Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi said, “I believe my role is to bring values like love, respect, and humility into Indian politics. What’s lacking across parties in our political system is these very qualities—love and respect for all human beings.”
Reflecting on the Indian national anthem, he said, “As it played, I thought to myself, the anthem mentions all our states equally. It essentially portrays India as a union of states, much like the United States.”
While addressing students at the University of Texas, Gandhi emphasized the importance of listening over speaking. “Listening is key, and understanding the deeper dynamics is crucial. You don’t need to raise every issue—just the fundamental ones. A strong political or business strategy is about knowing what battles not to fight,” he explained.
Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Idea of ‘Love in Politics’
Reflecting on his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi said it introduced the concept of love in politics for the first time in the country. “The Yatra fundamentally changed the way I approach my work. It transformed how I view our politics and our people. The most powerful thing that emerged organically was the introduction of love in the political discourse. This was possibly the first time in India, and perhaps in many other countries, that love became part of the conversation. It amazed me how effective that idea was.”
The Yatra, which spanned 75 districts and 76 Lok Sabha constituencies across 12 states and two Union Territories over 145 days, marked its second anniversary on Saturday.
“During the Yatra,” he explained, “I wasn’t communicating as Rahul; it was the Yatra itself communicating. It took me some time to realize that everything I was saying came from what people had shared with me. The most beautiful example of this was the slogan that emerged: ‘Nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukan khol rahe hain’ (opening a shop of love in the market of hate).”
Gandhi emphasized that a politician’s role is to deeply listen to and understand the sentiments of the people. “The key is to grasp what the country is saying, what it is feeling, and convey that to others,” he added.
‘India, US facing unemployment while China dominates global production.’
Addressing concerns about employment, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pointed out that India, the US, and many Western countries are grappling with unemployment, while China is not, as it dominates global production.
“The West has an employment problem, and India has an employment problem,” Gandhi said. “But many countries don’t face this issue. China certainly doesn’t, and neither does Vietnam.”
He further explained, “If you look at the United States in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, it was the center of global production. Whether it was cars, washing machines, or TVs, everything was made in the US. Over time, production shifted to Korea, Japan, and eventually China. Today, China dominates global production.”
Gandhi emphasized that the West, including America, Europe, and India, has “given up on the idea of production” and allowed China to take over. “Production is what creates jobs. What we, the Americans, and the West focus on is organizing consumption. India needs to rethink its approach and prioritize production. It’s not acceptable for India to simply concede that manufacturing and production will be dominated by China, Vietnam, or Bangladesh,” he stressed.
Emphasizing the need to focus on manufacturing in India, Rahul Gandhi said, “Until we prioritize manufacturing, we will continue to face high levels of unemployment, which is unsustainable. If we keep neglecting manufacturing, we’ll witness major social problems emerging in India, the United States, and Europe. The polarization in our politics is a result of this neglect.”
He also noted that India and the US not only share values as the world’s two largest democracies but also as unions of states.
**’No shortage of skills in India’**
When asked about modernizing the education system and addressing the gap between education and employability, Gandhi said, “Many claim that India has a skills problem. I disagree. The issue is not a lack of skills; it’s the lack of respect for those who possess them.”
He stressed the importance of connecting the education system with the business world through vocational training. “Bridging the gap between skills and education through vocational training is essential. A major challenge in our education system today is the ideological control, where ideology is being imposed rather than practical learning,” Gandhi added.
He expressed confidence that India can compete with China if it focuses on production and values skills. “I am absolutely convinced of this. States like Tamil Nadu have already demonstrated it. Indian states have shown it can be done—Pune and Maharashtra are examples. However, this progress is not happening at the scale or with the coordination required,” Gandhi concluded.
Gandhi arrived in Dallas on Saturday night and was warmly welcomed by dozens of Indian-American community members, including senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda and Mohinder Gilzian, the president of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA.
