# Rahul Gandhi calls RSS ‘bunch of jokers’, attacks PM Modi’s hugging diplomacy 2026-08-21T06:41:46+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a blistering attack on the ruling BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Monday, calling RSS workers a 'bunch of jokers' and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to understand modern India. Speaking at an event, Gandhi said India could not be understood by looking at events from 3,000 years ago but required engaging with the realities of modern India and listening to its people. 'Somebody who cannot connect with India as it is today cannot understand India,' he said, accusing those in power of talking about ancient traditions while failing to grasp the country's contemporary realities. Taking a swipe at Modi's well-known public hugs with foreign leaders, Gandhi said diplomacy could not be reduced to 'hugging other leaders' and should be guided by national interests rather than personal relationships. His remarks come amid intensifying political hostilities ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. ## Indian Opinion Analysis This marks the latest in a pattern of pre-election sparring between the Congress and the BJP, where cultural nationalism versus contemporary governance debates take centre stage. Gandhi's comments intentionally target the RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, aiming to rally opposition voters around constitutional secularism. The immediate political risk for the Congress is alienating moderate Hindu voters who respect the RSS's extensive social work, especially in rural and disaster-hit areas. With general elections due by May 2024, both sides are sharpening their cultural and ideological attacks to consolidate their respective bases. Watch for the BJP's counter-narrative, likely invoking Gandhi's foreign travel record to question his own understanding of India. ## Coverage - gulfnews.com Leads with Gandhi's most provocative label 'bunch of jokers' and his attack on Modi's hugging diplomacy, framing him as combative and dismissive of cultural heritage This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/rahul-gandhi-calls-rss-bunch-of-jokers-attacks-pm-modis-hugging-diplomacy/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/rahul-gandhi-calls-rss-bunch-of-jokers-attacks-pm-modis-hugging-diplomacy/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/