Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday shared a screenshot of a chat with what he called 'fellow anti-national Soros agents,' taking a dig at the government amid the ongoing CBSE Open School and Madarsa (OSM) row. The post, which quickly went viral, has sparked a fresh political controversy.
The Post and Its Context
In his post on social media platform X, Gandhi wrote: "Chatting with my fellow anti-national Soros agents. We are planning our next move to destabilize the country." The screenshot showed a WhatsApp conversation with an unnamed contact, with messages discussing the CBSE OSM issue. The post was widely interpreted as sarcasm aimed at the BJP's frequent allegations that the Congress is backed by foreign entities like George Soros.
CBSE OSM Row Background
The controversy stems from the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) decision to allow students from open schools and madarsas to appear for board exams. The BJP has accused the Congress of politicizing the issue, while the Congress claims the move is an attempt to dilute educational standards. Rahul Gandhi's post adds fuel to the fire, with the BJP demanding an apology.
Political Reactions
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra condemned the post, saying: "Rahul Gandhi's admission of being an 'anti-national' agent is shocking. This shows the true face of the Congress party." Meanwhile, Congress supporters defended Gandhi, arguing that he was being ironic and highlighting the absurdity of the BJP's accusations.
Analysis
Political analysts suggest that the post is a strategic move by Gandhi to mock the BJP's narrative and rally his base. By using the term 'Soros agents'—a favorite bogeyman of the right—he turns the accusation on its head. The CBSE row, which involves questions of religious education and state control, remains a flashpoint in Indian politics.
The post has garnered over 2 million views and thousands of comments, with users divided along party lines. As the debate rages on, the government has yet to officially respond to Gandhi's latest salvo.
