Lucknow, February 21: Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput has staunchly defended the Youth Congress activists’ demonstration at the AI Impact Summit, calling it a rightful exercise of constitutional freedoms. ‘What our Youth Congress workers did is their democratic right, and we take pride in their boldness,’ Rajput declared amid rising political tensions.
Echoing Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks, Rajput unleashed a scathing critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He accused the ruling party of undermining not just one community but the entire society, all religions, and even Sanatan traditions. ‘Fake Sanatanis are now demanding certificates from true believers,’ he charged, pointing to incidents where revered figures like Shankaracharyas face directives and their disciples endure violence.
Shifting to global economics, Rajput commented on U.S. policies, noting their inevitable spillover into India. He praised America’s independent judiciary, contrasting it with concerns over judicial decisions targeting opposition leaders in India. ‘Rahul Gandhi’s two-year sentence in a Gujarat defamation case was a regrettable miscarriage,’ he said, highlighting perceived biases.
Rajput didn’t spare the central government on India-U.S. trade ties. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration for allegedly capitulating to American tariffs and President Donald Trump’s pressures, forcing India to rethink even its oil imports—a blow to economic sovereignty. ‘The government fails to safeguard national interests effectively,’ he asserted.
On domestic religious flashpoints, Rajput responded to Uttar Pradesh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna’s statements, insisting that law must apply equally. Whether it’s loudspeakers, road-blocking processions, or disputes at religious sites, compliance is non-negotiable, he emphasized. This stance underscores Congress’s push for uniform justice in a polarized landscape.