Political tensions flared between Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday after the Leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi called Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) ‘traitors,’ while addressing Congress workers in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli.

The BJP leaders hit back and accused the Congress MP of using language that ‘mirrors Pakistan and terrorists.’

Gandhi alleges BJP, RSS had attacked the Constitution

In his address, Gandhi urged the Congress to confront RSS workers and directly accused the BJP leadership of ‘selling out India.’ He said, “When these RSS workers come to you, they will talk about Narendra Modi, they will talk about Amit Shah. You look them in the face and say, ‘Your Prime Minister is a traitor, your home minister in a traitor, your organisation is a traitor.’”

He further accused the BJP and the RSS of attacking the Constitution and the ideals of BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.

Later, the Congress leader also took a swipe at PM Modi over a viral video showing him gifting a packet of Melody chocolates to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, referencing the popular internet nickname ‘Melodi.’ A message posted by him on ‘X’ read, “An economic storm is raging and our Prime Minister is busy handing out candies in Italy…This isn’t leadership, it’s a farce.”

BJP mounts attack, says remarks reflect ‘Enemy Nation Language’

Soon after Gandhi’s speech, the BJP mounted a sharp counterattack, accusing him of insulting the country and destabilising democratic discourse. Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Gandhi’s statements resembled the language of India’s adversaries.

He asserted, “Rahul Gandhi’s language has become like that of an enemy nation. He speaks in a way that only an adversarial country would speak.” BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also joined the verbal spat, saying, “His language mirrors that of Pakistan and Pakistan-supported terrorists. Such statements can only be made by them,” Bhandari claimed.

Anurag Thakur reflects on Emergency era

Senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur also chipped in, accusing the Congress of attempting to dismantle the Constitution, while recalling the Emergency imposed by India’s former PM Indira Gandhi in 1975.

He said, “The very actions Rahul Gandhi speaks of today were carried out during the Emergency. If anyone saved the Indian people, it was Babasaheb Ambedkar.”