The BJP criticized Gandhi for not referring to the President with due respect during his speech. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister Smriti Irani expressed their disapproval, highlighting that the Congress leader failed to appropriately acknowledge India’s first tribal President. They framed this omission as indicative of Congress’s long-standing neglect of marginalized communities. Irani specifically emphasized the symbolic importance of Murmu’s position and accused Gandhi of undermining this progress.
Gandhi's speech also contained pointed attacks on the BJP, accusing the ruling party of policies and rhetoric that foster division and fear. His references to Hinduism sparked additional controversy when he asserted that true adherence to the religion's teachings requires rejecting fear and hatred. BJP members countered this statement, suggesting it maligned Hindus and demanded an apology, alleging that Gandhi portrayed Hindutva in a negative light.
The debate escalated when Gandhi criticized the BJP’s alleged misuse of central agencies against political opponents and cited personal experiences, including legal cases and investigations he faced. These remarks prompted interjections from senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who defended the government’s stance and challenged Gandhi’s accusations. Shah further suggested that Gandhi’s statements misrepresented the essence of Hinduism and accused him of painting an entire community in a negative light.
The Congress responded by asserting that Gandhi’s remarks were misconstrued. Party leaders argued that his speech intended to highlight systemic inequities and criticize political practices rather than insult the President or any community. They accused the BJP of deflecting attention from critical issues such as unemployment and inflation by sensationalizing Gandhi’s comments.
This episode underscored the deepening polarization in Indian politics, with both parties leveraging the controversy to energize their respective bases. For the BJP, the incident reinforced its narrative of defending cultural and constitutional values. For the Congress, it provided an opportunity to project Gandhi as a leader unafraid to confront authority, positioning him as the central figure in the opposition’s efforts to challenge the government ahead of the upcoming general elections.