On 29th August, The Lallantop, OneIndia, and other news portals reported that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was being praised by former Union Minister Smriti Irani. They claimed that Irani praised Gandhi at a podcast she did with journalist Sushant Sinha. However, the fact is that she criticised the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, which was misinterpreted by the media houses.
What actually did Smriti Irani say about Rahul Gandhi?
Smriti Irani said during the conversation with Sushant Sinha, “How the political strategy of Rahul Gandhi has changed; particularly his recent emphasis on caste politics.” She clarified that she was not complimenting Rahul Gandhi but exposing his divisive politics. Furthermore, Irani criticised Gandhi’s earlier temple politics, suggesting his recent focus on caste issues is a tactical move to gain media coverage after his previous efforts failed.
During this interview, Irani discussed her defeat in Amethi in 2024, the third term of the Modi government, and other political matters. The ruling Congress and a section of the media have attempted to portray Smriti Irani as a Rahul Gandhi admirer by screening a clip of this conversation.
However, these fans completely misunderstand the point. What to them sounds like praise is actually a very sharp critique of Rahul Gandhi’s divisive politics. Smriti Irani very clearly explained why, in recent years, Rahul Gandhi’s strategy has shifted from temple visits to highlighting caste-based issues.
RaGa Need New Haters,
— Newton (@newt0nlaws) August 28, 2024
Old one became his fans!!@smritiirani @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/UnccPUWGKO
Smriti Irani exposes hypocrisy of caste politics
Smriti Irani said a couple of years back, Rahul Gandhi’s politics was based on visiting temples, which suffered a miserable fate and brought him into ridicule. According to Irani, these visits neither boosted his popularity nor attracted significant media attention. Following the failure of his temple strategy, his focus shifted to caste politics, a topic he frequently raises to gain headlines.
Irani further explained that for Rahul Gandhi, caste is not a historical issue but a strategic one, used solely for political gain. She noted that caste was never a central theme in his politics until recently and cited his remarks about caste in the Miss India contest, arguing that he raises Dalit or OBC issues merely to attract attention. Her comments on this can be heard between 55 and 60 minutes into the interview, available through the link provided below.
Rahul’s obsession with caste is no coincidence
Rahul Gandhi’s persistent focus on caste and his search for Dalit and OBC participants, even during events like the Finance Ministry’s ‘Halwa Ceremony’ or among Miss India winners, is no coincidence. Nor is his call for a caste census without reason. According to Irani, these are the results of his failure in his earlier strategy, termed ‘soft Hindutva’ by the media. A few years ago, Rahul Gandhi was often seen visiting temples like Somnath, with Congress spokespeople presenting him as a ‘Dattatreya Brahmin’ and displaying photos of him wearing a sacred thread.
When this approach did not yield benefits and the public rejected his supposed Hindu image, Rahul Gandhi shifted to a politics aimed at dividing the Hindu community. However, this strategy is not original; the Samajwadi Party first raised this issue during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, but they were defeated. Rahul Gandhi seems to believe that raising this issue will help him secure more votes. His strategy is not without precedent.
Congress continues to be anti-backward classes
Rahul Gandhi’s call for a caste census and his vocal support for the rights of backward classes is ironic, considering his party’s history of sidelining these communities. Although he has been raising the issue of a caste census in recent years, he seems to forget that his father, Rajiv Gandhi, dismissed the idea of reservations for backward classes as ‘foolish’ in the 1990s. The same Congress did not touch the Mandal Commission report for over a decade.
Holding a copy of the Constitution and calling for OBC and Dalit representation in events like Miss India is starkly contrasted by the reality of his party’s history. Research shows that under Congress governments, the representation of OBC ministers has always been lower than under the BJP. While Congress allocated around 14% of ministerial positions to OBCs between 1952 and 2024, the BJP increased this figure to 25%. Moreover, if Rahul Gandhi is genuinely concerned about caste issues, why does he not push for the release of caste census data in Karnataka?
The reality of Congress’s performative politics on Dalits and OBCs is exposed by the fact that the Karnataka Congress government diverted funds from Dalit welfare programmes to fund its own guaranteed schemes. Furthermore, a scam involving millions of rupees was uncovered in a scheme aimed at tribal development in the same state, leading to a minister’s resignation.
Divisive rhetoric cannot change the reality of Congress’s track record
Rahul Gandhi’s recent rhetoric about breaking reservation limits, ensuring rights according to population, and finding caste angles in every issue does not alter his party’s inherent character. Nor can it erase the fact that Congress governments have historically reduced funds meant for Dalit welfare. While Congress gained a few more seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi believes that emphasising a caste narrative could further increase their numbers. However, he seems to overlook that if this narrative were truly popular among the public, how did the NDA manage to secure a clear majority?
Conclusion
The claims that Smriti Irani praised Rahul Gandhi are misleading. Her statements were not expressions of admiration but a sharp critique aimed at exposing his divisive strategies.
