Tharoor Revives Sonia Gandhi’s Speech on Hindu Liberalism in Response to BJP’s Accusations

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has revived a speech delivered by former party president Sonia Gandhi on Hindu liberalism, in an attempt to counter the BJP’s allegations that the Congress is anti-Hindu. Tharoor shared Gandhi’s speech on social media platform X, where she had praised Swami Vivekananda’s views on Hinduism and India’s pluralistic heritage.

Sonia Gandhi’s speech at Ramakrishna Mission

Gandhi had given the speech at the Ramakrishna Mission in New Delhi on January 12, 1999, on the occasion of National Youth Day, which marks the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. She had expressed her admiration for Vivekananda’s teachings, which emphasised tolerance, harmony and universal brotherhood. She had also expressed her concern and sadness over the “appropriation” and “distortion” of Vivekananda’s views by certain groups, who were promoting hate and antagonism, and rejecting the secular foundations of ancient civilisation.

Tharoor’s post on X

Tharoor, who is a Congress Working Committee member and a Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, posted Gandhi’s speech on X on January 12, 2024, along with his own comments. He said that he believed that Vivekananda’s teachings were highly relevant and impactful for the present day. He also said that the Congress party’s identification with Hindu liberalism was not a recent reaction to events in the last ten years, but a long-held conviction. He wrote:

“25 years ago today, then Congress President Sonia Gandhiji delivered this thoughtful address at the #NationalYouthDay function at the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi on 12th January 1999. It is hard to imagine a more effective message about Swami Vivekananda’s teachings today. And good to recall that @INCIndia’s identification with Hindu liberalism is not a reaction to events in the last ten years, but a long-held conviction.”

BJP’s criticism of Congress

Tharoor’s post came a day after the BJP had criticised the Congress for declining the invitation to its three top leaders – Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra – to attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. The BJP had claimed that this decision exposed the Congress party’s inherent opposition to India’s culture and Hindu religion. The BJP had also accused the Congress of being anti-Hindu in the past, citing its stance on issues such as triple talaq, Sabarimala temple entry and Citizenship Amendment Act.