During his visit to Stanford University in California, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke about his disqualification from the Lok Sabha and how it has presented him with a significant opportunity to serve the people. Gandhi, who is currently on a three-city US tour, mentioned that when he entered politics in 2000, he never anticipated going through such experiences. However, he sees it as an opportunity that has surpassed his initial expectations.
Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha occurred earlier this year when he was convicted by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case related to his “Modi surname” remark. Reflecting on this, Gandhi stated that he hadn’t imagined such a scenario could be possible.
Nevertheless, he believes that this setback has given him a tremendous opportunity, one even greater than what he may have had otherwise. He acknowledged that this is how politics works and that it has opened doors for him that he couldn’t have predicted.
Gandhi acknowledged the challenges faced by the opposition in India, citing financial dominance and institutional capture as major hurdles. In response to these difficulties, he embarked on the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ (Unite India Journey) six months ago. He emphasized that while the fight is his own, he wanted to connect with young students and engage in conversations with them, asserting his right to do so.
Gandhi clarified that his frequent foreign trips are not aimed at seeking support from anyone, questioning why the Prime Minister doesn’t engage with students and academicians abroad. He expressed his pleasure in engaging with the audience at Stanford and discussing the challenges and opportunities of a changing world order.
The event at Stanford University drew significant interest, with the auditorium filled to capacity and some students being denied entry due to overcrowding. Gandhi’s interaction with Indian students and academicians of Indian origin was well-received, and he later tweeted about the fruitful discussion on “The New Global Equilibrium” and the importance of actions based on truth.
It is worth noting that in the past year and a half, several Indian ministers have interacted with Indian students during their visits to foreign universities, indicating a growing trend of engaging with the Indian diaspora and students studying abroad.
