In Rahul’s debut as LoP, some flashbacks, a familiar script and new role’s aggression

Essentially, Rahul picked up from where he had left off during the Lok Sabha campaign, where he led the Opposition campaign from the front.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, Rahul attacked the NDA government over the Agnipath scheme, the NEET row, the MSP issue, the turmoil in Manipur, even the Modi government’s 2016 demonetisation move. He accused the ruling BJP of having created an atmosphere of fear in the country.

The main takeaways from his speech.

* Engaging with religion

There has been one constant in Rahul’s speeches for some years – his engagement with Hindu religion. He has often framed Hinduism in opposition to Hindutva, underlining the former’s inclusive nature rather than as an assertive force as a counter to another faith. The Congress leader, who has described himself as a “Shiva bhakt”, has also talked – as he did Monday – of finding the Congress’s election symbol, hand, in the images of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, Buddha, Mahavira in the form of ‘abhaya mudra’.

His invocation of the ‘abhaya mudra’ was a reiteration of his “daro mat”, “darao mat” message – another constant from his speeches, going back to 2017 – when he first spoke about having found the Congress’s electoral symbol in the images of gods.

What got the BJP on its feet was Rahul’s reference to Hinduism and the BJP. His remarks were later expunged . “It is clearly said in Hindu religion that one should stand with the truth and should not be afraid of the truth,” he added.

The first to rise during his speech was PM Modi, who accused Rahul of calling “the entire Hindu        society violent”. Other BJP leaders including Amit Shah too recorded their objection.

Rahul then said that even Ayodhya – the birthplace of Lord Ram — had sent a message to the BJP, going on to shake hands with Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad, who defeated the BJP’s Lallu Singh in the Faizabad seat which covers Ayodhya, who was sitting next to him.

* Jibes at Prime Minister

In repeated attacks on Modi, Rahul took a swipe at the PM’s statement made in an interview during the poll campaign of “having a direct connection with God”. “The parmaatma speaks to Modiji’s aatma directly, unlike us humans,” he said, wondering whether the sudden move of demonetisation followed such a “message” from God.

Rahul also referred to another claim by Modi in an interview that it took a film for people to “get to know about Mahatma Gandhi”. “Can you understand the ignorance… that a movie has revived the Father of the Nation?” he said.

At one point, Modi stood up to counter: “Loktantra ne aur samvidhan ne mujhe sikhaya hai ki mujhe vipaksh ke neta ko gambheerta se lena chaahiye (Democracy and the Constitution have taught me to take the Leader of the Opposition with all seriousness).”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and then Shah countered Rahul on his claims regarding the Agnipath scheme, asking him for proof.

Speaker Om Birla tried to interject saying everyone should respect the PM. Rahul countered that he respected the PM very much and was only repeating what he had himself said.

* Flashes of the campaign

Rahul’s speech matched the themes, topics, language and style of his campaign, from the rise in prices, to Manipur, unemployment, demonetisation, Agnipath and paper leaks.

On NEET, he said it is no longer a professional exam but has become a “commercial” one, suited for rich students.