BJP, VHP slam Rahul Gandhi over PM Modi 'hug' jibe, say LoP has 'crossed all limits'
Synopsis
On the eve of Independence Day, Rahul Gandhi's dig at PM Modi's diplomatic style has united BJP ministers, MPs, and the VHP in a rare coordinated rebuke — with all invoking the constitutional weight of the LoP's office to argue he has debased it. The episode lays bare how sharply political discourse has deteriorated ahead of a symbolically loaded national occasion.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi mocked PM Modi's foreign policy at the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention in New Delhi on 13 August , suggesting his diplomacy was reduced to hugging foreign leaders.
BJP and VHP responded on 14 August , saying Gandhi had 'crossed all limits' and disrespected the constitutional office of Leader of the Opposition .
Union Minister Giriraj Singh invoked past LoPs — including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K.
Advani — to contrast their conduct with Gandhi's.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi linked the remarks to what he called Gandhi's pattern of 'disrupting Parliament' and acting out of 'deep frustration'.
VHP's Vinod Bansal called the remarks 'utterly shameful', saying the Congress had fallen to 'the lowest level of this country's politics'.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday, 14 August launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of disrespecting the constitutional office he holds after he mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic style at a Congress event in New Delhi. The BJP and VHP said Gandhi had 'crossed all limits' by ridiculing the Prime Minister's foreign policy approach.
What Rahul Gandhi Said
Speaking at the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention in Delhi on Thursday, 13 August, Gandhi took aim at India's foreign policy, suggesting that PM Modi's diplomacy amounted to little more than embracing foreign leaders. The remark triggered an immediate and coordinated backlash from the ruling establishment and its ideological allies.
BJP Ministers and MPs Hit Back
Union Minister Giriraj Singh said the people of the country 'might be ashamed' of Gandhi's conduct. Invoking the legacy of past LoPs, Singh said: 'The post of the Leader of the Opposition has been held by distinguished leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Kripalani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandrashekhar, and L.K. Advani. Yet Rahul Gandhi used language that was unbecoming of the office. His conduct appeared more like theatrics than serious politics.'
Singh further noted that Gandhi's ancestors — Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi — each served as Prime Minister, and yet the LoP 'could not understand foreign policy.' He also alleged that Gandhi's foreign policy amounted to 'abusing the nation according to the agenda of George Soros', while asserting that the Indian diaspora abroad respects PM Modi for his diplomatic record.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said the remarks reflected 'deep frustration', adding: 'After having completely disrupted the Parliament session through their unruly behaviour, the uncivilised, unbecoming, and reprehensible language that Rahul Gandhi used from the official platform of the Congress party indicates that perhaps out of deep frustration, he is crossing all limits and boundaries.'
BJP leader Rohan Gupta also weighed in, stating: 'The Leader of the Opposition is a Constitutional post, and I do not think such comments are befitting of a person holding this position. The kind of personal remarks and derogatory language being used today have no place in politics.'
VHP Calls It 'Utterly Shameful'
VHP National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the country 'could never have imagined' that the party which governed India for the longest period 'would fall so low.' He said: 'Making such nonsensical remarks about the Prime Minister, and continuously shredding the dignity of words and speech, is utterly shameful and reflects the lowest level of this country's politics.'
The Broader Context
This is not the first time Gandhi's public remarks have drawn cross-party fire. The controversy comes on the eve of Independence Day, a period when political messaging and national symbolism are especially charged. Critics of the BJP, however, argue that the ruling party is using procedural outrage to deflect from substantive policy debate. The episode reflects a widening gulf between the treasury benches and the Opposition over the norms of political discourse in Parliament and beyond. How both sides frame this exchange ahead of the 15 August celebrations will be closely watched.
Point of View
Invoking Vajpayee and Advani as models of LoP dignity is a double-edged argument; both were fierce, often personal critics of their governments. The real issue is whether India's political culture has any agreed floor for parliamentary discourse — and neither side, by most accounts, is consistently above it.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rahul Gandhi say about PM Modi's foreign policy?
At the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention in New Delhi on 13 August, Rahul Gandhi suggested that PM Modi's diplomatic approach was largely defined by hugging foreign leaders, implying it lacked substantive depth. The remark was widely seen as a jibe at Modi's well-documented practice of warm personal diplomacy with world leaders.
Why did BJP and VHP react so strongly to Rahul Gandhi's remarks?
Both the BJP and VHP said Gandhi's comments were unbecoming of the constitutional post of Leader of the Opposition, which has historically been held by statesmen such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. They argued his remarks amounted to mockery of the Prime Minister and reflected poorly on the dignity of the office.
What did Union Minister Giriraj Singh say about Rahul Gandhi?
Giriraj Singh said the people of the country 'might be ashamed' of Gandhi's conduct and contrasted him with distinguished past LoPs. He also alleged that Gandhi's foreign policy amounted to 'abusing the nation according to the agenda of George Soros', while asserting that the Indian diaspora respects PM Modi's diplomacy.
What was the VHP's response to Rahul Gandhi's remarks?
VHP National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal called the remarks 'utterly shameful', saying the country could never have imagined that the party which ruled India the longest 'would fall so low.' He said Gandhi's conduct reflected 'the lowest level of this country's politics'.
What is the significance of the Leader of the Opposition post in India?
The Leader of the Opposition is a recognised constitutional position in the Lok Sabha, carrying statutory privileges and responsibilities comparable to a Cabinet minister. The post was notably vacant for a decade before Rahul Gandhi was recognised as LoP following the 2024 general election results.
