In a fiery speech at the Congress party’s ‘Kisan Maha Chaupal’ in Bhopal, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the central government. The event, held in Madhya Pradesh’s capital, protested the interim trade deal between India and the US. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was also present as Gandhi took the stage.
Gandhi recounted an alarming incident from former Army Chief MM Naravane’s book. He claimed he was prevented from discussing it in Parliament despite his efforts. According to the book, Chinese tanks were advancing towards Indian borders. Naravane urgently called Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for orders but received no clear directive.
The former Army Chief then reached out to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, only to face silence. Nearly two hours later, another call to the Defence Minister suggested contacting the Prime Minister. The ambiguous message sent back was: ‘Do what you deem appropriate.’ Gandhi accused the government of abandoning the military that day.
He further criticized the violation of parliamentary traditions, noting that the Leader of Opposition is traditionally allowed to speak after the President’s address—a right denied to him, undermining democracy.
Turning to women’s safety, Gandhi highlighted a shocking incident in Gorakhpur on February 22. A doctor from Nagaland was stalked, harassed with remarks, and allegedly raped. He condemned the episode as a stark indicator of rising intolerance and insecurity, especially for women from the Northeast.
Rallying the Youth Congress workers, Gandhi declared them ‘Babbar Sher’—fearless lions ready to fight for justice. The crowd erupted in cheers, signaling strong support for his call to action amid ongoing political tensions.