Rahul Gandhi Launches Scathing Attack on PM Modi Over Sabarimala Silence
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi delivered a blistering critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally in Kannur, Kerala, on Tuesday. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of employing selective religious rhetoric while maintaining conspicuous silence on the alleged gold theft case at the revered Sabarimala temple.
Questioning Modi's Selective Religious Stance
"When the so-called defender of Hinduism comes to Keralam, he says nothing about Sabarimala," Gandhi declared to the assembled crowd. He highlighted what he described as a pattern of inconsistency in the Prime Minister's public addresses. "First, wherever the PM goes, he talks about temples, religion and gods. But when the PM comes to Keralam, he doesn't raise the issue of the Sabarimala temple."
The Congress leader further intensified his allegations by pointing to specific accusations against the ruling Left Democratic Front. "CPM leaders stole gold from the Sabarimala temple, but no action has been taken against them," Gandhi asserted, suggesting deliberate inaction on the part of authorities.
Alleging Covert BJP-LDF Understanding
Gandhi presented a startling claim of political alignment between traditionally opposing forces. He alleged an underlying understanding between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF government in Kerala. "Narendra Modi controls the Chief Minister of Kerala," Gandhi stated unequivocally.
Elaborating on this controversial assertion, the Congress leader explained: "The CM of Kerala knows that Narendra Modi is not acting on his cases; the CM knows that Narendra Modi has the key to putting the CM in jail right now. You will hear Congress attacking Narendra Modi, but you will never hear Kerala CM attacking Modi or Modi attacking Kerala CM."
Drawing International Parallels and Ideological Accusations
In one of his most provocative remarks, Gandhi drew a parallel between international and domestic political dynamics. "The way Donald Trump controls Narendra Modi, the same way Narendra Modi controls the Chief Minister of Kerala," he declared, generating significant reaction from the audience.
The Congress leader further escalated his criticism by questioning the ideological integrity of the Communist party. "CPI(M) no longer Left party but extreme Right wing party," Gandhi proclaimed, suggesting a fundamental transformation in the party's political orientation.
Framing the Electoral Battle
Gandhi positioned the upcoming Assembly elections as a contest between contrasting political philosophies while highlighting what he described as an unprecedented alliance. "This election is a fight between two ideologies. The ideology of the Left Front CPM, the ideology of the UDF and the Congress party," he explained.
"And for the first time, we are seeing that there is a partnership between the BJP and the Left Front. Normally, this would be quite surprising that a Left party is allying with an extreme right party," Gandhi added, emphasizing the unusual nature of the alleged political alignment.
Context of Reciprocal Accusations
These remarks emerge within an increasingly heated political atmosphere in Kerala, where both the ruling LDF and the opposition United Democratic Front have exchanged accusations of functioning as the BJP's "B-team." Earlier, Gandhi had characterized the LDF as "completely supported by BJP" and described the Left government as a "corporate-funded government" that had abandoned its foundational principles.
The Congress leader suggested strategic considerations behind the alleged BJP preference for the LDF, claiming it would be "easier to influence compared to the Congress-led UDF." Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has countered with similar accusations against Gandhi and the Congress, intensifying the war of words as the high-stakes Assembly elections approach.
The political discourse in Kerala has reached unprecedented intensity, with allegations of covert alliances and ideological betrayals dominating campaign narratives from all major political formations contesting the crucial state elections.
