India
‘Hawa nikal gayi thi’: Rahul Gandhi shares Kharge’s reaction on Congress’ frozen bank accounts – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday recounted his experience of sealing the party’s bank accounts months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a gathering for the Indian diaspora in Herndon, Virginia (US), the Congress leader said the freezing of his bank account had left his party without money for advertising, campaigning or even transportation of its leaders.
Rahul remembers discussing the situation with Mallikarjun Kharge and the treasurer, who was no longer confident about what to do next.
“Unki toh, hawa likal gayi thi (he lost his confidence) about what to do now,” Rahul said.
Despite having contested multiple elections in the past, Rahul said this was the first time that all their bank accounts were sealed. “This is the first time in my life that all the bank accounts were sealed. I said, ‘dekhi jayegi, dekhte hain kya hota hai’ (We will see, let’s see what happens) and that was the spirit with which we fought the elections,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul stressed that the struggle in India is not just about politics but about fundamental rights. “The struggle (in India) is about whether a Sikh can wear a turban in India…whether a Sikh can wear a kada in India or go to a Gurudwara…that is what the struggle is about, and it is not just for Sikhs, it is for all religions…” he said.
Rahul also claimed that the “fear” among the people about Prime Minister Narendra Modi had disappeared after the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were announced.
“Something changed after the elections. Prime Minister Modi tried to create an environment of fear. Different agencies, media, tax department tried to spread fear even among small and medium businesses. But nothing worked. The fear disappeared in one second. Spreading fear took years and cost a lot of money but it disappeared. You see it in the parliament immediately… And I can tell you that the idea of Prime Minister Modi, 56 inches of chest, direct connection with God. All that has disappeared. It is history now,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi is currently on a US visit and will be in Washington for two days. He also spoke to students and faculty at the University of Texas and addressed members of the Indian diaspora in Dallas, calling them a “vital bridge” between the two nations.
Addressing a gathering for the Indian diaspora in Herndon, Virginia (US), the Congress leader said the freezing of his bank account had left his party without money for advertising, campaigning or even transportation of its leaders.
Rahul remembers discussing the situation with Mallikarjun Kharge and the treasurer, who was no longer confident about what to do next.
“Unki toh, hawa likal gayi thi (he lost his confidence) about what to do now,” Rahul said.
Despite having contested multiple elections in the past, Rahul said this was the first time that all their bank accounts were sealed. “This is the first time in my life that all the bank accounts were sealed. I said, ‘dekhi jayegi, dekhte hain kya hota hai’ (We will see, let’s see what happens) and that was the spirit with which we fought the elections,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul stressed that the struggle in India is not just about politics but about fundamental rights. “The struggle (in India) is about whether a Sikh can wear a turban in India…whether a Sikh can wear a kada in India or go to a Gurudwara…that is what the struggle is about, and it is not just for Sikhs, it is for all religions…” he said.
Rahul also claimed that the “fear” among the people about Prime Minister Narendra Modi had disappeared after the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were announced.
“Something changed after the elections. Prime Minister Modi tried to create an environment of fear. Different agencies, media, tax department tried to spread fear even among small and medium businesses. But nothing worked. The fear disappeared in one second. Spreading fear took years and cost a lot of money but it disappeared. You see it in the parliament immediately… And I can tell you that the idea of Prime Minister Modi, 56 inches of chest, direct connection with God. All that has disappeared. It is history now,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi is currently on a US visit and will be in Washington for two days. He also spoke to students and faculty at the University of Texas and addressed members of the Indian diaspora in Dallas, calling them a “vital bridge” between the two nations.
