Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday (July 29) accused the BJP-led Central government of constructing a “Chakravyuh”, a reference to an impenetrable military formation from the Mahabharat, around India’s youth, farmers, women, and small businesses.
Speaking in the House, Gandhi asserted that the “Lotus formation,” represented by the BJP’s symbol, is controlled by six key figures: Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Ajit Doval, Mukesh Ambani, and Gautam Adani.
‘Atmosphere of fear prevails in country’
Gandhi drew a parallel between the ancient Chakravyuh that trapped Abhimanyu and the current political situation, describing it as a modern-day Chakravyuh shaped like a lotus, with the Prime Minister symbolically at its center.
“Thousands of years ago in Haryana, in Kurukshetra, six people killed a youth, Abhimanyu, in a ‘chakravyuh’. A ‘chakravyuh’ has violence and fear. Abhimanyu was trapped and killed in the ‘chakravyuh’,” he said.
“I did some research and discovered that ‘Chakravyuh’ is also known as ‘Padmavuyh’ – which means ‘Lotus formation’. ‘Chakravyuh’ is in the shape of a Lotus. In the 21st century, a new ‘Chakravyuh’ has been formed – that too in the form of a Lotus. The Prime Minister wears its symbol on his chest. What was done with Abhimanyu, is being down with India – the youth, farmers, women, small and medium businesses…Today, there are six people at the centre of ‘Chakravyuh’…Six people control today too -Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Ajit Doval, Ambani and Adani,” Gandhi said in the House.
When Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla intervened, Gandhi humorously suggested he could omit the names of NSA, Ambani, and Adani, leaving only three.
Expanding on his allegations, Gandhi identified three forces behind this “Chakravyuh” –
1) Monopoly capital, which he claimed aims to concentrate India’s wealth in the hands of a few;
2) Government institutions and agencies such as the CBI, ED, and IT; and
3) The political executive.
According to Gandhi, these elements are responsible for widespread damage to the country.
‘Budget strengthens framework of monopoly’
Gandhi also criticised the Union Budget, claiming it reinforces the monopoly framework rather than addressing the needs of farmers, youth, and small businesses. He accused the Budget of bolstering political and economic monopolies while neglecting the broader populace.
“I expected that this Budget would weaken the power of this ‘Chakravyuh’, that this Budget would help the farmers of this country, would help the youth of this country, would help the labourers, small business of this country. But what I have seen is that the sole aim of this Budget is to strengthen this framework – frameworks of monopoly business, of a political monopoly that destroys the democratic structure and of the deep state and the agencies. The result of this has been – those who gave employment to India, small and medium businesses, were attacked through demonetisation, GST and tax terrorism,” he added.
Gandhi vows INDIA Bloc to pass MSP guarantee bill
Furthermore, Gandhi also promised that the INDIA bloc would pass a bill guaranteeing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) in the House.
“I want to tell the farmers of the country that we will do what they (NDA) have not done. We will pass (the bill for) guaranteed legal MSP in this House. Before this Budget, the middle class used to support PM Modi. On his orders, the middle class banged ‘thalis’ during Covid. Now with this Budget, you have stabbed the same middle class in the back and chest,” he said.
(With inputs from news agencies)