Protecting India’s Constitution is the real fight today: Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized on Sunday that the current primary struggle in India is to safeguard and uphold the Constitution, which he described as a document crafted with humility and love rather than hatred. Speaking in Wayanad's Mananthavady as part of the by-election campaign for his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul underlined the importance of the Constitution in providing protection and defining India's greatness.

“The main fight in the country today is the fight for the Constitution of our country,” he stated. “The protection that we get, the greatness of our country, all emerged from the Constitution.” Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, spoke passionately about the spirit in which India’s founding document was created, attributing its ethos to the sacrifices of those who fought against British rule, endured jail, and wrote the Constitution out of love for the nation.

Describing this as a battle between “love and hatred” and “confidence and insecurity,” Rahul Gandhi urged people to let go of anger and replace it with humility and compassion. He encouraged citizens to embrace empathy and kindness, saying, “If you truly want to win this fight, then you must help by removing anger from your heart, by removing hatred from your heart, and replacing them with love, humility, and compassion.”

Reflecting on his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's compassionate nature, Rahul shared childhood memories and instances of her empathy, including an encounter with Nalini Sriharan, one of the individuals convicted in their father Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. According to Rahul, Priyanka’s reaction was one of sympathy and compassion, a sentiment he feels is essential for politics in India. “That is the training that she has received. And to me, this is the type of politics that needs to be done in India. Not the politics of hatred, but politics of love and affection,” he emphasized.

During her campaign, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra intensified her criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, accusing him of prioritizing his business allies over public welfare. “Modi ji's government works only for his big businessmen friends. His objective is not to give you a better life, not to find new jobs for your young ones who are educated, not to provide better health or education,” she alleged, as she underscored the importance of addressing issues faced by the common man.

The bypoll campaign in Wayanad is a crucial one for the Congress, as Priyanka Gandhi aims to retain the seat previously held by Rahul Gandhi. In this pivotal election, Rahul Gandhi has continued to advocate for a “politics of love” while criticizing policies that he claims foster division and neglect essential public needs.