'Wanted Behenji with us" Rahul Gandhi about inviting Mayawati, she retorts with 'casteist Congress'

Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday remarked that had Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati allied with the Congress in the last parliamentary elections, the BJP would not have secured victory.

Speaking at an event with students at the Mool Bharti hostel in Raebareli, Gandhi questioned Mayawati's electoral strategy and reiterated that the doors of the INDIA alliance remain open for her.

"We wanted Behenji to fight elections along with us against the BJP," said Rahul Gandhi, referring to Mayawati. "However, for some reason, Mayawati Ji isn't contesting, which disappoints us greatly. Because if all three parties come together, the BJP would never win."

Mayawati’s sharp response

Mayawati swiftly responded, rejecting the Congress leader’s invitation and calling out what she termed the party’s "double standards." In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote in Hindi:

"In the states where Congress is strong or where it has governments, there is animosity and casteist attitude towards BSP and its followers, but in a state like UP where Congress is weak, there is deceptive talk of alliance with BSP. If this is not the double standard of that party, then what is it?"

She further accused the Congress of failing to transfer its voter base to the BSP in past alliances, stating, "Whenever BSP contested elections in UP and other states in alliance with casteist parties like Congress, our base vote has been transferred to them, but those parties have not been able to transfer their base vote to BSP. In such a situation, BSP has always had to face losses."

Mayawati’s decision to contest independently in the 2024 elections contrasted with Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP), which fought under the INDIA alliance banner.

Rahul Gandhi on student rights and English education

During his interaction with students, Rahul Gandhi emphasised the role of the Constitution in ensuring equal rights and opportunities. He urged students to recognise their rights and responsibilities in shaping India’s future.

He also spoke about the importance of learning English, indirectly criticising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP. "Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) says speak in Hindi, yet the children of RSS and BJP leaders study in English-medium schools and even study in England," he remarked.

Highlighting English as a tool for upward mobility, Gandhi stated, "English is a weapon. Once you learn English, you can go anywhere—Tamil Nadu, Japan, Mumbai—wherever. Meetings in Tata companies are held in English, not Hindi." He accused BJP and RSS leaders of attempting to prevent marginalised communities from gaining access to the English language, saying, "Where English is dominant, they don't want Dalits, backward people, and the poor to enter. They have a monopoly over it, but English is your biggest weapon."

Gandhi concluded by unveiling a statue of Rana Beni Madhav Singh, a historic figure associated with the 1857 revolt.