Lagatar24 Desk
Washington DC: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the Indian diaspora in the Washington DC metro area on Monday, acknowledging their unique role as a bridge between the United States and India. In his speech, Gandhi praised the Indian community for their dual identities and the ability to transfer ideas and values between the two nations.
“You are the bridge between these two great unions of states,” said Gandhi. “You make us very proud because we understand the challenges you faced in coming here. You arrived with humility, respect, and affection—proud of both India and the United States.”
Speaking to a diverse audience, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha emphasized the Congress party’s core message of spreading love, not hatred. He contrasted this with the ideology of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which he alleged restricts the ability of individuals to have dual identities.
“As per the BJP, you cannot have two identities. You cannot be an Indian and, at the same time, an American. That is what the fight is about… We are saying don’t spread hatred, spread love. Be humble, don’t disrespect people, communities, religions, traditions, or languages,” he said, stressing that such attitudes are vital for success.
Criticism of the RSS
Rahul Gandhi also took aim at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), claiming that the organization does not understand the true essence of India. He explained that India’s Constitution defines the country as a “union of states,” meaning it is a union of languages, traditions, and cultures. Gandhi accused the RSS of promoting the belief that certain communities and states are inferior to others.
“The RSS believes that certain states, languages, religions, and communities are inferior to others,” Gandhi alleged. He further stated that the Congress party’s ideology stands for equality and respect for all, whether it’s the Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, or Manipuri languages.
A Call for Unity
In his address, Gandhi called for unity and inclusiveness, arguing that India must allow its citizens to believe what they want and express their individual identities freely. “The fight is about what type of India we are going to have. Are we going to have an India where people are allowed to believe what they want to believe? Or are we going to have an India where only a few people can decide what happens?”
He urged the diaspora to continue playing their role in exchanging values between the US and India, helping both nations grow and prosper.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the US is part of a broader effort to engage with the Indian community abroad, and his remarks have struck a chord with many who view themselves as ambassadors of both Indian and American values.
