'No Expectations From You as Rahul Gandhi': Yogi Adityanath Hits Back at LoP Over Manusmriti Remarks

Raebareli: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning Manusmriti, saying that there were "no expectations" from him because of the way he has approached issues concerning India's cultural and historical traditions.

Speaking in Raebareli, Yogi criticised Gandhi's comments and questioned his understanding of India's civilisational heritage. The Chief Minister's remarks added another layer to the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and Congress.

The exchange comes amid a broader political debate over Manusmriti, its historical significance and its place in discussions surrounding India's social and constitutional framework. Opposition leaders have frequently cited the text while discussing caste discrimination and social inequality, while the BJP has accused them of selectively using historical references for political purposes.

Yogi said political leaders should approach India's history and traditions with greater understanding and responsibility. He also criticised what he described as attempts to create political narratives around ancient Indian texts.

Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly spoken about caste inequality and social justice and has used references to historical texts and traditions while making the case for greater representation of marginalised communities. His remarks on Manusmriti have previously triggered strong reactions from BJP leaders.

The latest confrontation reflects the wider ideological differences between the Congress and BJP, particularly over questions of caste, social justice, religion and India's historical traditions.

The political exchange also comes at a time when Rahul Gandhi has been intensifying his outreach on issues related to electoral representation, caste census and social equality. The Congress has argued that greater representation for historically disadvantaged communities is necessary to strengthen democratic participation.

The BJP, meanwhile, has accused the Congress of attempting to divide society along caste lines and has defended its approach to social welfare and development.

Raebareli holds particular political significance for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, who has represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha. The constituency has remained an important centre of political activity for the party.

Yogi's remarks are likely to trigger further political reactions from the Congress, with the two parties continuing to clash over ideological and social issues.

The controversy once again highlights how debates surrounding India's ancient texts continue to intersect with contemporary political arguments over caste, equality and social justice.