BJP Rajya Sabha MP and National Spokesperson Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of pursuing a foreign agenda to dismantle Hindutva [1, 2].

The confrontation highlights the intensifying ideological battle between India's two largest political parties over the interpretation of ancient texts and national identity.

Speaking during an interview on India Today’s "Chhatro Ki Goonj" program, Trivedi questioned the authenticity of a specific passage from the Manusmriti that Gandhi had previously cited [1, 2]. He challenged Gandhi to produce the original text to verify the quotation, suggesting the citation was misleading [1, 2].

Trivedi said that Gandhi is not merely engaging in political opposition but is working toward a broader goal of destabilizing the cultural fabric of the country [1, 2]. He described the current strategy as an evolution of colonial tactics—not divide and rule this time, divide and destroy [1].

The BJP spokesperson said that these efforts are backed by foreign interests aimed at weakening the Hindutva movement [1, 2]. By challenging the relevance and accuracy of the Manusmriti quotation, Trivedi aimed to frame Gandhi's rhetoric as an external imposition rather than an internal critique [1, 2].

This exchange is part of a wider pattern of disputes regarding the use of historical and religious scriptures in contemporary Indian political discourse [1, 2]. Trivedi said that the use of such texts by the opposition is intended to create social friction rather than promote genuine dialogue [1, 2].

“Not divide and rule this time, divide and destroy.”

This clash reflects a strategic shift in political rhetoric where the BJP is framing opposition critiques of social hierarchy—often supported by citations of ancient texts like the Manusmriti—as foreign-funded attempts to destabilize the state. By shifting the debate from the content of the text to the identity and motives of the speaker, the BJP seeks to delegitimize the Congress party's social justice narrative as an external threat to national unity.