Addressing party workers, Gandhi launched a direct attack on the ruling establishment and the ideological organisation associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He told Congress members that when Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers speak to them about Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, they should look them in the eye and say that their Prime Minister is a traitor, their Home Minister is a traitor and their organisation is a traitor. He further alleged that they had worked to sell out India and had attacked the Congress organisation, the Constitution of India, Dr B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi later intensified his criticism through a post on X, targeting Prime Minister Modi over the widely circulated video showing him presenting a pack of Melody candies to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Referring to the online phrase "Melodi", Gandhi said that while an economic storm was sweeping across the country, the Prime Minister was occupied with handing out candies in Italy. He said that farmers, young people, women, labourers and small traders were in distress, while the Prime Minister was laughing and creating social media videos. Gandhi described the situation as a farce rather than leadership.
The Bharatiya Janata Party reacted sharply, accusing Gandhi of undermining democratic institutions and attempting to create unrest in the country. Union Minister Giriraj Singh said Gandhi's language resembled that of an enemy nation. He asserted that Rahul Gandhi was speaking in a manner that only a hostile country would adopt and said the global community was already aware of India's economic strength and did not require validation from him. Singh further alleged that Gandhi wanted instability in the country but would face resistance from the nation's citizens and youth, who stand firmly behind Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah.
Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari described the statements as an insult to democracy and claimed Gandhi had effectively labelled all 1.4 billion Indians as traitors. He alleged that such language mirrored that used by Pakistan and terrorists supported by that country. According to Bhandari, Gandhi had demonstrated that his intentions were not those of a conventional political opponent but of someone seeking to confront the Indian state.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also condemned the remarks, referring to Gandhi as the "prince" of the Congress party and demanding a public apology. In a post on X, Adityanath said the Congress, which he described as the originator of divisive and appeasement politics, was led by a figure whose indecent comments reflected negative politics, uncontrolled thinking and complete disregard for democratic values. He stated that Gandhi's remarks against Prime Minister Modi, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh amounted to an insult to the mandate, trust and democratic sentiments of 1.45 billion Indians. He insisted that Gandhi should apologise to the nation for what he called an objectionable, unparliamentary and frustration-driven statement.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur accused the Congress party of attempting to dismantle the Constitution of India. He said that the actions Rahul Gandhi now condemned were in fact carried out by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. Thakur stated that Dr B R Ambedkar had protected the rights of the Indian people, yet it was the Congress party that had humiliated him. He added that the use of derogatory language had become the party's established method of political conduct.
Thakur also defended the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, saying it had consistently stepped forward during critical moments in the country's history, including the 1965 war and the Emergency. He alleged that attacking Prime Minister Modi and insulting the organisation, along with questioning electronic voting machines and the Election Commission, had become standard practice for the Congress party.
The controversy has intensified the already bitter confrontation between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with both sides invoking the Constitution, democratic institutions and historical legacy to support their positions. Gandhi's remarks and the Bharatiya Janata Party's strong response are expected to further sharpen political tensions as the national debate increasingly centres on leadership, governance and the future direction of Indian democracy.
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