In a sharp political exchange, the BJP has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of harboring a ‘Mughal mindset’ after he refused to mention the name of the ‘Jee Ram Jee’ scheme during a Lok Sabha debate. National spokesperson Prem Shukla led the charge, declaring that Gandhi’s omission reveals his deep-seated biases.
Speaking to reporters, Shukla highlighted Gandhi’s past actions, contrasting his alleged reverence at Babur’s tomb with his reluctance to invoke Lord Ram’s name in a government initiative aimed at rural empowerment. ‘This is clear evidence of Mughal thinking dominating Rahul Gandhi,’ Shukla asserted, framing it as a deliberate snub to India’s cultural heritage.
Echoing this sentiment, LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary criticized Gandhi for his pattern of misinformation. She accused him of scaremongering on national issues without proper research, particularly on bills and parliamentary discussions. ‘Rahul Gandhi spreads lies to pretend he’s fighting for the people, but he doesn’t even study the facts,’ she said.
Choudhary defended the ‘Jee Ram Jee’ scheme as rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant villages. She explained that the program, focused on rural development, undergoes regular reviews to adapt to current needs, which she described as a responsible governance practice. The NDA leaders portrayed Gandhi’s stance as an attempt to derail a pro-farmer agenda with false narratives.
This controversy underscores deepening divides between the opposition and the ruling coalition on cultural and developmental issues. As elections loom, such exchanges are likely to intensify, with the BJP leveraging Hindu pride to counter Congress’s secular positioning. The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media, highlighting the scheme’s popularity among rural voters.