Giriraj Singh backs Modi's Vijayadashami unity call, targets Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal
Synopsis
Union Minister Giriraj Singh used PM Modi's Vijayadashami message as a springboard to label Rahul Gandhi an 'urban Naxal' and accuse both the Congress and AAP of working at the behest of external forces — escalating political rhetoric to a new pitch just as the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's Mumbai attack on Tiger Shroff's car keeps the opposition's own counter-offensive in the headlines.
Key Takeaways
Giriraj Singh on 21 October 2026 accused the Opposition of acting as a 'Tukde-Tukde gang' to divide the country.
He backed PM Modi 's Vijayadashami appeal for unity against forces threatening national honour and social harmony.
Singh called Rahul Gandhi an 'urban Naxal' and accused both Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal of acting at the behest of external forces.
He alleged certain groups were exploiting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to court Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrant voters — allegations the opposition disputes.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had accused Home Minister Amit Shah of links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, following the 18 October firing near Tiger Shroff 's vehicle in Juhu, Mumbai .
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, accused the Opposition of working to fragment the country, throwing his weight behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Vijayadashami message that called on citizens to unite against forces undermining national honour and social harmony.
What Giriraj Singh Said
Speaking from Patna, the Union Minister invoked the phrase 'Tukde-Tukde gang' — a term frequently deployed by ruling party leaders against dissenting voices — to describe what he characterised as divisive elements within the political opposition. 'The Tukde-Tukde gang is trying to divide the country. Prime Minister Modi was right in his Vijayadashami message. India is progressing independently, without bowing to external pressure, and working in its national interest,' Singh said.
He went further, alleging that certain groups were acting at the behest of external forces, and singled out Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the figurehead of such elements, calling him an 'urban Naxal' — a term the ruling party has used before but which critics argue is deployed to delegitimise political opposition. Singh also targeted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, referring to the party with a derisive nickname.
The Vijayadashami Context
Prime Minister Modi, on Tuesday, 20 October, used the occasion of Vijayadashami — which marks the symbolic victory of good over evil — to appeal for collective resistance against forces he described as threats to the country's cultural heritage, dignity, and social fabric. Singh's remarks on Wednesday were a direct amplification of that message, drawing an explicit parallel with the Dussehra tradition of burning effigies of the demon king Ravana to represent the defeat of evil.
Notably, the Union Minister alleged that certain political groups were raising issues around youth and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls specifically to consolidate Muslim voter support, particularly among what he described as Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants — allegations that remain unverified and which opposition leaders have strongly denied in the past.
The Sanjay Raut Exchange
Singh also weighed in on recent remarks by Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut, who at a Dussehra rally made incendiary allegations linking Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and accused Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of leading a mafia network. Raut's remarks followed the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility for a 18 October firing incident near Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff's vehicle in Mumbai's Juhu area, in which three shooters reportedly opened fire as he was leaving a football ground.
Singh dismissed Raut's statements alongside those of Rahul Gandhi, saying: 'Sanjay Raut and Rahul Gandhi themselves do not know what they are saying. Both are competing with each other to see who makes the most absurd statement each day.'
What Comes Next
The exchange reflects a sharp escalation in political rhetoric ahead of what analysts expect to be a busy electoral calendar. With the BJP seeking to consolidate its Hindu nationalist messaging post-Vijayadashami and the opposition rallying around separate flashpoints — from the electoral roll revision controversy to the Mumbai underworld narrative — the battle of narratives is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Recycled once again against Gandhi, is unlikely to move undecided voters but is designed to keep the base energised. The more consequential question — whether the SIR electoral roll revision and the Mumbai firing fallout become sustained political liabilities — is being drowned out by the war of epithets.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Giriraj Singh say about PM Modi's Vijayadashami message?
Giriraj Singh endorsed PM Modi's Vijayadashami appeal for national unity, saying Modi was right to call for resistance against forces undermining India's honour and social harmony. Singh used the occasion to accuse the Opposition of working as a 'Tukde-Tukde gang' at the behest of external forces.
What allegations did Giriraj Singh make against Rahul Gandhi?
Singh called Rahul Gandhi an 'urban Naxal' and alleged he was leading groups acting at the behest of external forces to divide the country. These are unverified political allegations that Congress has previously rejected.
What did Sanjay Raut say at the Dussehra rally?
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged at a Dussehra rally that Home Minister Amit Shah was the 'Lawrence Bishnoi' of the country and accused Shah and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis of being the 'real sardars' of a mafia network. His remarks came after the Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the 18 October firing near Tiger Shroff's vehicle in Mumbai's Juhu area.
What was the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's Mumbai firing incident?
On 18 October, three shooters reportedly opened fire at Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff's car in Mumbai's Juhu area as he was leaving a football ground. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an Election Commission process to update voter rolls. Giriraj Singh alleged, without providing evidence, that opposition groups were raising issues around the SIR to garner support among Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants — a claim the opposition has not been given space to respond to in this context.
