Rahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS in Kishanganj, Says: “We Will Open Shops of Love in the Market of Hate”
Addressing a rally in Bihar’s Kishanganj, the Congress leader accused the BJP of spreading hatred to distract people from real issues like unemployment and inflation.
Kishanganj (Bihar): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a strong attack on the BJP and RSS on Sunday during a public rally in Bihar’s border district of Kishanganj, held in support of Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) candidates.
Speaking to a large crowd, Gandhi said India is witnessing a clash between two opposing ideologies — one represented by the RSS and BJP, which “divide the country on the basis of religion, caste, and region,” and the other by the Mahagathbandhan, which “stands for unity, harmony, and brotherhood.”
Reiterating his famous slogan, Gandhi said, “Our mission is to open shops of love in the market of hate.” He accused the BJP of deliberately spreading hatred to divert people’s attention from key issues such as unemployment, rising prices, and corruption. “They benefit from the politics of hate,” he said, adding that “our opponents want to shut down these shops of love — that’s what this election is really about.”
Expressing concern over Bihar’s current situation, Gandhi said that the state’s youth are being forced to migrate to other regions for work, while many colleges and universities have shut down. Criticising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and taking a jibe at former U.S. President Donald Trump, he said both had “destroyed job opportunities.”
Sharing his vision for Bihar, Gandhi said, “We want to see ‘Made in Bihar’ written on people’s clothes and mobile phones instead of ‘Made in China.’” He questioned why, despite Bihar producing valuable crops like makhana (fox nuts), food processing factories have not been established, allowing foreign companies to profit instead of local farmers.
Citing the example of the ancient Nalanda University, Gandhi recalled that Bihar was once a global centre of learning, attracting students from around the world. He promised that if the Mahagathbandhan came to power, it would open new schools, colleges, and universities to restore Bihar’s status as an educational hub.
Rahul Gandhi also accused the BJP of “winning elections through vote theft rather than public support,” claiming that the party was weakening India’s democracy. “We are fighting to protect the voice of India,” he declared.
The crowd responded enthusiastically, chanting slogans of “Mohabbat ki dukaan” (shops of love) in support of his message of unity and harmony.
