Fact Check: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi did not say Hindus are violent, he criticized BJP and RSS
A video clip circulating on social media shows Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi saying, "Jo log apne aap ko Hindu kehte hain, woh log 24 ghante kehte rehte hain hinsa, hinsa, hinsa."
When translated, it means, "Those who call themselves Hindu are busy with violence 24 hours a day." This video is shared by social media users with the caption: “Firoz Khan's grandson is abusing Hindus so much after getting only 99 seats. Imagine what this traitor will do to the Hindus if he gets the majority.... !
Another user shared a bit longer version a 17-sec video with the caption “Rahul Gandhi is saying “Jo Log apne aako Hindu kehtehain who log 24 ghante kehte rehte hain Hinsa Hinsa Hinsa… Nafrat Nafrat … Asatya, Asatya, Asatya. . . " , when translated, it claims “ Those people who called themselves as Hindus, speak about violence, hate and lies 24 hours…”
We have also seen that various politicians reacted on this issue with different captions. Union Minister of Health & Family welfare J.P Nadda shared on his social media “Rahul Gandhi Ji must immediately APOLOGISE to all Hindus for terming them as violent. This is the same person who was telling foreign diplomats that Hindus are terrorists. This intrinsic hate towards Hindus must stop.
BJP State president of UP Bhupendra Singh Choudhry also shared the video with the text: “Anti-Hindu side of Rahul Gandhi revealed inside the Parliament”.
Fact Check: We found the claim is Misleading, an edited clip is shared on social media.
During the search, we found a video uploaded on Rahul Gandhi YouTube Channel in which at exact 20.05 time stamp, Rahul says: "Lord Shiva is a symbol of peace. If you look at an image of Lord Shiva, you will feel that Hindus never spread fear, violence or hate. In addition, he says that the BJP discusses violence, hate, and fear 24 hours a day."
We also found Sansad TV uploaded the full version of the video in its live stream section. At exact 21:07 timestamp, we found the Prime Minister questioning on the issue. He alleges that Rahul Gandhi says that all Hindus are violent.
Answering the question at 21.12 time stamp, we found the leader of opposition saying: “I said it to you to BJP, not to the entire Hindu community”.
On behalf of this issue, Congress leader Sachin Pilot posted a video clip on his social media with the caption: “नरेंद्र मोदी पूरा हिंदू समाज नहीं है BJP पूरा हिंदू समाज नहीं है RSS पूरा हिंदू समाज नहीं है ये BJP का ठेका नहीं है” - नेता विपक्ष @RahulGandhi @INCIndia
"Narendra Modi does not represent the entire Hindu community, BJP does not represent the entire Hindu community, and RSS does not represent the entire Hindu community. The country is not BJP’s property."
Alappuzha Lok Sabha Member of Parliament K.C Venugopal also shared a video in his social media. in the video Rahul is saying “ Hindu Never spread violence, Hindu never spread Hate:
We found a detailed article published in Indian Express “Participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Gandhi began his speech — the first by a recognised LoP in Lok Sabha in a decade — on a fractious note. Pointing to the Treasury Benches, he said that “those who call themselves Hindus… are engaged in violence and hate.”
“This prompted a rare intervention and rebuttal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said it was a matter of concern that Hinduism was being equated with hate and violence. Gandhi said he was talking about the BJP and the ruling party who are not the sole representatives of Hinduism. “Ye theka nahi hai BJP ka,” he said.
“Shiv ji kahte hain, daro mat, darao mat, aur abhay mudra dikhate hain. Ahimsa ki baat karte hain aur trishool ko zamin me gaarh dete hain aur jo log apne aap ko Hindu kahte hain woh 24 ghanta hinsa, hinsa, hinsa, nafrat, nafrat, nafrat, asatya, asatya, asatya. Aap Hindu ho hi nahin. (Lord Shiva says do not be fearful…he buries the Trishul in the ground and those who call themselves Hindus, they chant violence, hatred, untruth…You are not a Hindu),” Gandhi said, adding that Hindu religion clearly prescribes that one should always follow the truth.
“Our symbol is Abhaya Mudra (fearlessness),” Gandhi said, showing his right hand and asking his party members to show the symbol. As Gandhi made his remarks, BJP members protested and sought an apology from him. To this, Rahul said that the shouting was because the “arrow had struck the heart.”
“You are not a Hindu… It is clearly said in Hindu religion that one should stand with the truth and should not be afraid of the truth,” he added.
Deccan Chronicle also published it elaborately “BJP is not custodian of Hinduism, says Rahul”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately got up to say that calling the whole Hindu society violent was a serious matter. Amit Shah sought the Congress leader’s apology to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores of people who take pride in identifying themselves as Hindus. However, Gandhi did not stop. “You are not true Hindus. The BJP doesn’t represent Hindus. Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu samaj, RSS is not the entire Hindu samaj. You are not the custodians of Hinduism,” continued Gandhi, amid thumping of tables by the Opposition. Later, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who watched him speak from the visitors’ gallery along with their mother, Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, said: “He (Rahul) cannot insult Hindus. He said it very clearly. He talked about the BJP, he talked about BJP leaders.”
As per Economic Times: “Rahul Gandhi targeted BJP's politics of hatred, not Hindus: AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang defends LoP's remarks”.
Priyanka Gandhi defends Rahul Gandhi, says he spoke against BJP, not Hindus : India Today
Times of India published “Rahul's 'not Hindus' jibe at BJP draws angry reaction”
Hence, based on the above news publications and our investigation, we found the claim is misleading. An edited clip was shared on social media to mislead people. In the original clip, the Leader of the Opposition was targeting the BJP and RSS, not the entire Hindu community.