‘Fascism is already present… Parliament is no longer functional,’ Rahul Gandhi told an Italian newspaper

Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress, spoke candidly about his experiences on the “Bharat Jodo Yatra” in a rare interview with the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera. He also discussed how Prime Minister Narendra Modi could lose the next election, recalled happy times spent with his father Rajiv, and grandmother Indira Gandhi, and explained why he was still single at the age of 52.

Gandhi remarked that the journey was more like a ‘Tapasya’ for the Congress leader once the yatra was completed (sacrifice).

“… everyone’s limits, including mine, are well beyond what we believe. Tapasya is a challenging word for a Western mind to understand in Sanskrit, the world’s oldest language. Someone defines it as sacrifice or ‘patience,’ but the literal meaning is to generate heat. “The march is an action that generates warmth, causes you to look inside yourself, and makes you realize the tremendous tenacity of Indians,” Gandhi stated.

Gandhi acknowledged that there was a polarization between Hindus and Muslims when asked about it, but he emphasized that it was not as severe as the media and the government had made it out to be. Instead, he said, the polarization was more of a tool to divert attention from more serious problems like “poverty, illiteracy, inflation, the post-covid crisis of small, indebted entrepreneurs and landless farmers.”

In response to a question about fascism in India, Gandhi stated, “Fascism is already there. Democratic institutions are collapsing. Parliament is no longer in session. I haven’t been able to speak for two years because they take my microphone away as soon as I speak. The power dynamic is skewed. Justice is not impartial. Centralism is unquestionable. “There is no longer free press.”

When asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi could be defeated in the next election, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in Opposition unity, claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party would be defeated completely if the other parties banded together.

“… there is no doubt that he (PM Modi) can be defeated. So long as you oppose a vision that is not linked to the right or left, but to peace and unity. Fascism is defeated by providing a viable alternative. “We will be able to prevail if two visions of India compete in the vote,” Rahul believes.

He did not address the Russia-Ukraine conflict directly, citing that it was a foreign policy issue, but he still called for “peaceful solutions.”

“Of peaceful competition,” the former Congress president said when asked about India-China relations. On an industrial level, I don’t believe the West can compete with China, particularly in low-value-added production. India is capable and should be. For her people’s fortitude.”

When questioned about his relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, Gandhi said that although he never met him, he saw Nehru as his “guide.”

Gandhi, on the other hand, claimed to be his grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s favorite.

“I hated spinach and peas,” Gandhi said, recounting their (Rahul – Indira) strong bond. However, my father, Rajiv, was very strict and expected me to complete everything. My grandmother would then open the newspaper and say, Rahul, read here. I spilled the peas or spinach on her plate, which was the agreed-upon signal hidden by the newspaper.”

Gandhi even revealed that his grandmother was certain of her death and had personally warned him about it, requesting that he not cry when the day came… “At least not in public,” she says.

Another shocking claim made by the Congress leader was that Rajiv Gandhi was aware of his impending demise and stated, “I’m not sure if he knew it was the Tamil Tigers who were going to kill him. But he sensed a convergence of energies, interests, and forces that would have cost him his life.”

Gandhi, on the other hand, denied claims that he was also afraid for his life. “It’s not a scary thing. I do what needs to be done.”

He also stated that he wanted to have children but was unsure why he was still unmarried at the age of 52.