Born into a family won't make you PM: Kiren Rijiju blasts Rahul Gandhi

Kiren Rijiju attacked Rahul Gandhi as the INDIA bloc marched towards the Election Commission in Delhi. The clash deepened after police stopped the protest and Gandhi said he was there to protect democracy.Kiren Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi of spreading anti-India narratives.New Delhi,Oct 6, 2026 17:05 ISTUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the INDIA bloc's protest march to the Election Commission and Gandhi's sit-in protest near the Commission's office, accusing the Congress of echoing "anti-India" narratives and targeting constitutional institutions.Taking a direct swipe at Rahul Gandhi and his political lineage, Rijiju said India had changed and that simply being born into a particular family would not make someone Prime Minister."People don’t want to see this anymore. The country has already moved towards becoming a developed India. The country has changed. Just being born into a particular family does not mean you will become the Prime Minister," the Minister said.The minister added that the country’s youth have changed and, with a new mindset, are committed to building a developed India by 2047 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rijiju said the Congress should stop propagating narratives that, according to him, are pushed by foreign powers and “anti-India elements” to weaken the country, discredit its constitutional institutions and mislead people."My request to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party is to stop propagating the narratives of anti-India forces. Foreign powers and anti-India elements constantly push narratives to weaken India, discredit its constitutional institutions, and mislead its people. The Congress, at the very least, should not echo these narratives," Rijiju said. He also questioned the Opposition's decision to protest against the Election Commission and attack constitutional institutions."Why stage dramas by attacking the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and constitutional institutions? This charade will not work," Rijiju said, also adding that the Congress should focus on public service if it wanted to regain public support, arguing that social media narratives alone would not be sufficient.Rijiju's remarks came amid a broader BJP attack on the INDIA bloc's protest march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused the Opposition of using the protest to vent its frustration over electoral defeats and level allegations against constitutional bodies.Chouhan questioned the Opposition's position on elections in states where Opposition parties had won."Friends in the opposition, the very system you are questioning is the one under which you won in Kerala. Was that victory illegitimate? You won in Karnataka. Was that victory illegitimate? You won in Himachal. Was that victory illegitimate?" Chouhan asked.He also referred to the formation of Opposition governments in Punjab and Jharkhand and questioned whether those victories too were being considered illegitimate."If you question constitutional institutions, you will commit the sin of plunging the country into the fires of anarchy. Do not commit the sin of plunging the nation into unrest and anarchy. The country and its people will never forgive you," Chouhan said.BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also criticised Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the Supreme Court's proceedings concerning Form 6, which is used by people seeking inclusion in electoral rolls.Gandhi had claimed on X that it was established beyond doubt that the Chief Election Commissioner had changed Form 6 "illegally and unilaterally". Patra disputed the claim, saying the Supreme Court had not made such a finding."The Supreme Court did not make any such statement. It has just issued notices. A hearing has not even taken place yet. The CJI has stated that the matter will be examined when a hearing takes place," Patra said.He accused Gandhi of misquoting the Supreme Court and attempting to create what he described as an atmosphere of "anarchy, lies, deceit and confusion" in the country.Patra also alleged that the Congress and some of its allies were trying to dislodge the BJP from power at the Centre and bring Rahul Gandhi to the helm without him having to "earn it".HIGH DRAMA DURING INDIA BLOC MARCHThe INDIA bloc's protest march from Parliament towards the Election Commission headquarters witnessed high drama in Delhi. The Opposition MPs were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police stopped the march on Parliament Street, following which several Opposition leaders were detained.Among those detained were Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress leaders Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien and Mahua Moitra. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also taken into a bus.Rahul Gandhi, however, continued with the protest. Around noon, he climbed a barricade near the NITI Aayog office and waved the Tricolour as cameras captured the moment.After speaking to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from outside one of the buses, Gandhi moved towards the reception entrance of Akashvani Bhavan, which is adjacent to the Election Commission's office.Staff initially attempted to prevent him from entering, leading to a tense stand-off. Gandhi eventually entered the premises accompanied by his security personnel.Priyanka Gandhi later alighted from the bus and joined her brother. The two sat under a tree near Gate 4 as Congress leaders and others gathered at the spot.Congress general secretary KC Venugopal and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera later reached the entrance and sought entry. Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Sachin Sharma held talks with the leaders, who eventually entered the premises.Several Opposition MPs who had been detained earlier returned after their release, and the gathering continued into the afternoon.RAHUL SAYS PROTEST TO PROTECT DEMOCRACYSpeaking to reporters from inside the Akashvani Bhavan premises, Rahul Gandhi said he was standing there to "protect democracy"."I don't care what the BJP says. I am standing here to protect democracy," Gandhi said.He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had "finished off democracy" in the country through what he described as "vote chori"."There will be action against them. None of them will be spared be it PM Modi, Home Minister Shah, RSS chief Bhagwat or CEC Gyanesh Kumar. What has been done to our country is treason. Nobody is going to escape," Gandhi added.Gandhi also alleged that Modi, Shah and Bhagwat had "hijacked”" the country through "vote chori", with Gyanesh Kumar helping them.The protest continued for several hours after the initial march was stopped, with Opposition leaders gathering at Akashvani Bhavan and reiterating their allegations against the Election Commission.Rijiju, meanwhile, dismissed the Opposition's campaign against constitutional institutions and directly challenged Rahul Gandhi's political approach, saying that India's changing political landscape meant that family background alone could not determine who would become Prime Minister.- Ends