Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Hindu' remark creates uproar in Lok Sabha

The Bharatiya Janata Party - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh - hit back strongly to Rahul Gandhi's Monday afternoon speech in Parliament, accusing the Congress MP, and new Leader of the Opposition, of insulting all Hindus.

This was after Mr Gandhi - who came armed to deliver his first speech as the LoP with a copy of the Constitution and photos of religious figures, including Lord Shiva - launched a fierce attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, claiming neither represented all Hindus and that they "spread fear and hatred".

Mr Modi rose twice to rebut the Congress leader's remarks.

"Calling the entire Hindu society violent is a serious issue..." Mr Modi said first.

His



second intervention drew jeers from his rivals; the Prime Minister declared the Constitution had taught him to respect the post of the Leader of the Opposition, which is held today by Mr Gandhi.

The jeers were because the opposition has claimed the government is trying to subvert the Constitution - a charge the BJP has trashed - and Mr Gandhi was among MPs adding "Jai Samvidhan" to their oaths last month.

"It feels nice... BJP people are repeating 'Jai Samvidhan' after me," he quipped.

The specific trigger to the ruckus today was Mr Gandhi's pointed attack on the BJP and the RSS, whom he accused of violence against minorities. "Our great men spoke about non-violence (but) those who call themselves Hindus talk only about hatred... aap Hindu ho hinahin (you are not a Hindu)," he said.