Rahul Gandhi hails nationwide protest, thanks defenders of Constitution
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi called Monday's nationwide demonstrations a definitive show that the people of India will not be intimidated, thanking INDIA Bloc leaders, Congress workers, and civil society. He levelled sharp attacks on the RSS and Prime Minister Modi, labelling them 'bullies,' and vowed the opposition would not back down in what he framed as a fight for the Constitution and democracy.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi praised nationwide protests on 13 October 2025 , calling them a powerful defence of the Constitution and democracy.
Gandhi thanked INDIA Bloc leaders, Congress workers, and civil society organisations for their participation.
He accused the RSS of attacking young children the previous day and challenged them to confront protesters openly.
Gandhi labelled both the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as bullies who rely solely on power.
He emphasised unity, stating the protests were one collective movement rather than parallel events.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday, 13 October 2025, praised the thousands of citizens who participated in protests across the country and the millions who expressed solidarity at 3 pm, calling the day a powerful demonstration that the people of India will not be intimidated. Gandhi shared his remarks in a post published after the demonstrations concluded.
Gandhi's Message to Protesters
Expressing gratitude to leaders of the INDIA Bloc, Congress party workers, and alliance activists, Gandhi framed the day as a show of collective resolve. Today was a very important day because we needed to show the government that the people of India are not going to be intimidated. You cannot beat us, threaten us, frighten us. We will not accept being bullied,
he said.
He also thanked civil society organisations for their support, saying the movement values and loves them. I'm extremely proud of every single person who came out on the streets,
Gandhi added, noting that everyone worked like a team.
Sharp Attack on RSS and Prime Minister
Gandhi took a pointed dig at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), questioning the absence of those he accused of attacking young children the day before. I was wondering where the cowards of the RSS who were beating the young children day before yesterday were. Where were those people? Because I didn't see them,
he remarked.
He challenged them to wear your little scarves and come out
when the people of India stand together, labelling both the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as bullies
who, he alleged, rely solely on power and cannot stand up openly.
Unity at the Core of the Movement
The Congress leader stressed that the protests were not fragmented events but one unified movement. It's one protest, and it's a protest where everybody is standing together. Every single person is going to stand against these killers of our Constitution, these killers of our democracy. And we're not going to back down,
he declared.
Gandhi concluded by expressing pride in all those who came out to defend what he described as the idea of India, the Constitution, and democracy.
Political Context and What Comes Next
The remarks come amid an intensifying political confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government and the opposition INDIA Bloc. The opposition has framed the protests as a defence of democratic values against what it terms authoritarian tactics — a charge the ruling dispensation has consistently rejected.
This is not the first time Gandhi has used street mobilisation to signal opposition strength; similar nationwide demonstrations have punctuated his political strategy over the past several years. With the alliance now pointing to Monday's turnout as evidence of grassroots momentum, the political temperature is likely to rise further in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
If verified independently, gives it more weight than usual. Notably, his direct naming of the RSS as 'cowards' escalates the rhetorical conflict beyond standard political sparring and is likely to draw an equally sharp response. The INDIA Bloc's challenge will be translating street energy into sustained electoral momentum; past large-scale protests have not always converted to ballot outcomes. What is new here is the explicit framing of the movement as a constitutional defence rather than a party campaign — a framing designed to broaden the coalition beyond Congress loyalists.
NationPress
13 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the nationwide protests that Rahul Gandhi praised?
The protests, held on 13 October 2025, were organised by the opposition INDIA Bloc across the country, with millions reportedly expressing solidarity at 3 pm. Gandhi described them as a unified demonstration defending the Constitution and democracy against what the opposition characterises as authoritarian government tactics.
What did Rahul Gandhi say about the RSS?
Gandhi accused the RSS of attacking young children the day before the protests and questioned their absence during the demonstrations. He challenged RSS members to confront protesters openly and labelled both the RSS and Prime Minister Modi as 'bullies' who rely solely on power.
Who did Rahul Gandhi thank after the protests?
Gandhi expressed gratitude to leaders of the INDIA Bloc, Congress party workers, alliance activists, and civil society organisations. He said he was extremely proud of every person who came out to defend the idea of India, the Constitution, and democracy.
How has the BJP responded to the protests?
The source does not carry an official BJP response to Monday's protests. The ruling party has historically rejected opposition characterisations of its governance as authoritarian, and a formal rebuttal is expected in the coming days.
What is the INDIA Bloc?
The INDIA Bloc is a coalition of opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress, formed to contest the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the national level. It has used coordinated street demonstrations as part of its political strategy alongside parliamentary opposition.
