various political outfits such as BJP, SP, CPI and JD(U).

[107] Congress's Jairam Ramesh said Gandhi needed to

apologise to the Muslim community for this remark.[108] In reply to the ECI's show-cause notice to explain why action
should not be initiated against him for violating the Model Code of Conduct, Gandhi said that he didn't intend to
exploit communal sentiments but was referring to divisive politics.[109]

Rahul Gandhi with Greek Prime
Minister George Papandreou in
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
The BJP also asked the government to explain why Gandhi, who holds no post in the government, is being briefed by
intelligence officers on important security issues.[110] On 13 November 2013, the Election Commission of India found
Gandhi's explanation to be insufficient conveyed its displeasure and advised him to be more circumspect in his public
utterances during election campaigns.[111]
Lokpal

Gandhi opines that the Lokpal should be made a constitutional body and it should be made accountable to the Parliament, just like the Election
Commission of India. He opined that Lokpal alone cannot root out corruption, rather a strong political will is needed to remove corruption. This statement
came out on 25 August 2011, on the 10th day of Anna Hazare's fast. Gandhi's statement was considered a delaying tactic by the opposition and Team
Anna's members. It was consequently slammed by opposition leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.[112] The Parliamentary Standing Committee led by
Abhishek Manu Singhvi tabled the Jan Lokpal Bill report in the Rajya Sabha on 9 December 2011. The report recommended the Lokpal be made into a
constitutional body.

Farmers' and Land Agitation

On 19 April 2015 Gandhi addressed the farmer and worker's rally, named as Kisan Khet Mazdoor Rally in Ramlila
Maidan. Here he made "references to his agitations in Niyamgiri in Orissa and Bhatta-Parsaul in Greater Noida in
Uttar Pradesh".[113] The rally was attended by 1 lakh people. In the speech he gave, he criticized the Indian prime
minister Narendra Modi about his comment in Toronto where he said that he was "cleaning the mess created by
previous governments".[114] He also said "Do you know how Modi won the election?.. He borrowed thousands of crores
from industrialists for his several campaigns and advertisements. How will he pay them back? He will pay them back
with your land. He will give your land to his industrialist friends."[113]
Gandhi in Shillong addressing a
He razzed the government as a "suit-boot government", a reference to Modi's monogrammed suit which he wore in the public meet
Republic Day meeting with Barack Obama. Moreover, he used the "acche din government" jibe (which was Modi's
election campaign slogan meaning "good days government") and mentioned that it had "failed the country".[115]

A land bill was introduced by the BJP government in the parliament in May which was criticized by the opposition parties.[116] Accusing the government of
"murdering" UPA's land bill,[117] Gandhi promised to prevent the bill from being passed, if not in the parliament then would "stop you [ BJP government]
on streets". He further accused the government of diluting the bill and called it "anti-farmer".[116] Gandhi also drew a parallel between "daylight robbery"
and the bill.[118] On 26 May, the day of the Modi government's first anniversary, Gandhi commented at a rally in Kozhikode "Unfortunately, birthday
celebrations is only for a few powerful friends of the government. Kisan, farmers and mazdoor have nothing to celebrate." [119]

Women's empowerment and LGBTQ rights

Gandhi has spoken publicly about the importance of women's empowerment and gender equality in India.[120][121] For
instance, he has called for increased representation of women in politics and for the eradication of gender-based
violence.[122][123][124] Under second Manmohan Singh ministry, Women's Reservation Bill which would allow 33 per
cent reservation of all Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly seats for women, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
Gandhi backed the Women's Reservation Bill stating, "Women do not need any protection. If you give them their
rights, they can protect themselves".[125] This bill was passed the Rajya Sabha on 9 March 2010, stating that the
reservation would no longer be in effect after 15 years from its implementation. To become a law, the Lok Sabha needed
to pass the bill and it had to be ratified by at least half of India's legislative assemblies. The bill, however, never went to Gandhi as the Chief Guest at The
a vote in the Lok Sabha and eventually lapsed due to its pending status.[126][127][128][129] In 2019, while addressing Doon School Model United Nations
students in Chennai, Gandhi has again called for 33 per cent reservation of all parliamentary Lok Sabha and state in 2017.
legislative assembly seats for women, as well as government jobs.[130]

On 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India revoked Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, an act which criminalized homosexual sex between
adults. Gandhi had backed the repeal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and the decriminalization of homosexuality, stating that he believed that
issues related to personal freedom should be left to the individual.[131]

Bharat Jodo Yatra

Rahul Gandhi launched the yatra on 7 September 2022 at Kanyakumari after paying tributes to his late father Rajiv Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, and the
Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar. The Congress said the yatra was "India's biggest mass contact program", during which the concerns of the people will reach
Delhi.[132] After unfurling the tricolour flag at the Srinagar's historic Lal Chowk, which marked the end of 137-day-long foot march from Kanyakumari to
Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has given an alternative vision of the politics to the country. Rahul Gandhi
unfurled that national flag at the historic clock tower and sang the national anthem to send a strong message of nationalism.[133]

Climate Change

Rahul Gandhi has been very concerned about the environmental degradation of the world and has said that unless they are not made a political issue, they
won't get the attention they deserve.[134][135]