Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday accused Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi of making statements that undermine India’s traditions, heritage and democratic institutions, ANI reported from Raebareli.
Accusations in Raebareli
Addressing a gathering in Raebareli, Yogi referred to remarks made by Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra, where the Congress leader had urged women to break free from what he called the "shackles of the Manusmriti." The Chief Minister said such comments reflect a pattern that, in his view, disrespects national traditions and the country’s cultural memory, ANI reported.
"Recently, I was reading a statement made by the Member of Parliament from Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi. He made a statement in Maharashtra urging women to break free from the shackles of the Manusmriti," Yogi said, according to ANI.
Yogi said that while the country may not have "high expectations" from Rahul Gandhi personally, his role as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament carries a duty of accountability to India's democracy, ANI reported. He criticised Gandhi for comments he said had questioned the existence of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and for statements made outside the state and abroad that, the Chief Minister alleged, portrayed Uttar Pradesh and India negatively.
Context and references to ancient texts
On Gandhi's remarks regarding Manu, Yogi suggested that the Congress leader should study ancient scriptures, specifically naming the Atharvaveda, the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Matsya Purana, ANI reported. He presented this as the appropriate route to understand historic texts rather than what he characterised as dismissive rhetoric.
The Chief Minister also invoked the Emergency of 1975 when questioning the Congress party's commitment to democracy, and alleged that some statements by Gandhi indirectly encourage anti-national elements. ANI reported that Yogi said Gandhi's oath to uphold the Constitution should preclude what he described as disparaging remarks about India's traditions and heritage.
Reaction and political implications
The remarks are part of a wider pattern of public exchanges between senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, where cultural and historical narratives are frequently central to political argument. Yogi's comments in Raebareli — a long-standing Congress parliamentary constituency — are notable for their focus on symbolic issues such as the Manusmriti and Lord Ram, which have been flashpoints in national debate.
- Location: Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh.
- Primary actors: Yogi Adityanath (UP Chief Minister), Rahul Gandhi (Leader of the Opposition).
- Source: ANI report from Raebareli.
ANI carried the quotations attributed to Yogi and provided the details of the address, including the lines urging Gandhi to consult ancient texts for a fuller understanding of Manu, the report said. The Economic Times also summarised the Chief Minister's speech, citing similar points.
Both parties have previously engaged in exchanges on cultural and historical questions; this episode reiterates how debates over scripture, historical memory and national symbolism continue to be mobilised in contemporary political campaigning and rhetoric.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Public address by Yogi Adityanath in Raebareli |
| Main accusation | Rahul Gandhi undermining India's traditions and democratic institutions |
| Texts referenced by Yogi | Atharvaveda, Shatapatha Brahmana, Matsya Purana |
The comments will likely figure in political discourse in the run-up to future electoral battles, particularly given Raebareli's symbolic value for the Congress and the continuing salience of cultural issues in Indian politics. The reports cited here attribute the quotations and characterisation of events to ANI and news summarisation by the Economic Times.
