Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a sharp political attack on Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in a speech in the recent comments he made about Manusmriti and whether he was fulfilling the responsibilities of his constitutional position.
Yogi said Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition had a lot of responsibilities to parliament and India's democratic institutions. In Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said Gandhi’s continuous political statements had undermined Indian traditions, heritage and institutions.
The remarks came after Rahul Gandhi, speaking in Maharashtra, called for women to break free from what he referred to as the “shackles” of the Manusmriti. Gandhi has frequently criticized the social hierarchy and discrimination that he associates with the text, and it has become an issue in his political rhetoric in recent years.
Yogi questioned Gandhi's approach and said the country did not expect him to only act as an individual political leader but would expect him to carry out his role as Leader of Opposition. Gandhi had an oath to uphold the Constitution and therefore should take the issue of India’s history and cultural traditions with more responsibility and attention, he said.
"You took an oath to uphold the Constitution of India, yet you seem to consider it your birthright to disparage India's traditions and heritage," Yogi said, according to remarks cited in his speech.
Yogi Adityanath Advises Rahul Gandhi to Study Ancient Texts
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh also responded to Gandhi's comments on Manu by asking him to study old Indian literature and religious texts. Yogi pointed out the Atharvaveda, Shatapatha Brahmana and Matsya Purana to give some understanding of Manu and India’s ancient traditions.
The exchange is part of a larger political rift between the BJP and Congress on the interpretation of India’s cultural and religious heritage. And while Congress leaders have often used Manusmriti as an example when discussing caste discrimination and social inequality, BJP leaders have accused the opposition of selectively representing India’s civilisational traditions.
Emergency reference and questions over democracy
Yogi also brought up the Emergency imposed in 1975 while questioning Rahul Gandhi's commitment to democratic values. The Chief Minister referred to the historical record of the Congress party as part of his broader criticism of Gandhi's political position.
The Emergency, initiated by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, remains one of the most polarizing episodes in India’s political tradition post-Independence. Opposition leaders and the BJP have often referred to that period as a time when Congress’s record on democracy and civil liberties was poor.
Yogi’s comments also sought to connect Rahul Gandhi’s current criticism of the government with the Congress party’s past actions.
Attack Over Statements on Uttar Pradesh and India
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also accused Rahul Gandhi of portraying Uttar Pradesh and India negatively through statements made outside the state and abroad. Yogi alleged that Gandhi's political rhetoric had damaged the image of the state and country.
He also criticized Gandhi and the Congress on terrorism and Ayodhya and Lord Ram. These issues are still central to the BJP’s political messaging, especially in Uttar Pradesh, where Ayodhya is important for political and cultural reasons.
Yogi also referred to the recent controversy of a young woman at Jantar Mantar against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the woman and her mother later retracted the comments and apologised and used it to question the political atmosphere of criticism of the Prime Minister.
#WATCH | Raebareli: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "Recently, I was reading a statement made by the Member of Parliament from Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi. He made a statement in Maharashtra urging women to break free from the shackles of the Manusmriti. Rahul ji, the country… pic.twitter.com/vXiLbs6FWz
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2026
Why ruin India’s future at the hands of urban Naxals?
Yogi also questioned why India’s youth and cultural heritage should be exposed to what he called the influence of “Urban Naxals.”
"Why do you want to ruin the future of India’s current generation at the hands of ‘Urban Naxals'? Why do you want to destroy India’s heritage? Why do you want to jeopardise India’s future?" he said.
The term “urban naxal” has become a politically charged word in India and is frequently used by BJP leaders and their supporters to describe activists, intellectuals or political foes who they accuse of being in cahoots with extremist or anti-establishment causes. Opposition groups have felt that it is used to discredit dissent generally.
Yogi also accused Rahul Gandhi of failing to use his position as Leader of Opposition in a constructive manner. The Chief Minister said voters had expected the Congress leader to play a responsible role in Parliament but instead had seen him abandon that responsibility.
Amethi and Raebareli figure in political attack
Yogi also made mention of the political importance of Amethi and Raebareli, two constituencies that are historically associated with the Gandhi family. But despite the region’s long-standing political support for the family, its people have been left with an identity crisis, he claimed.
The comments come at a time when the BJP and Congress are in competition in Uttar Pradesh. Raebareli is still a key point for the Congress, and Amethi is also a crucial centre of BJP-Congress battle.
Yogi’s comments serve to underscore the increasingly combative political discourse between the BJP and Rahul Gandhi. The Manusmriti debate, India’s cultural heritage, the Congress’s record during the Emergency and competing interpretations of democracy will continue to be central to the political battles between the two parties.
