Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s confidence has diminished, stating that Modi “is no longer the same as he was before.” Speaking at a public rally in Surankote, Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of the state assembly elections, Gandhi criticised the BJP-RSS, accusing them of spreading hatred and division across the country.

“Today whatever the opposition wants to get done, that happens. Modi government brings laws, we stand up against them, then they take a U-turn. Narendra Modi’s confidence has ended. We have broken him psychologically. Narendra Modi is no longer the same as he was before,” the Congress leader said.

“The BJP-RSS people spread hatred and violence, making brothers fight each other. Their politics is based on hatred, but hatred cannot be countered with more hatred – only love can eradicate it,” Gandhi remarked.

Highlighting the Opposition’s recent successes, Gandhi stated that whenever the Modi government introduces a law, the opposition rises against it, often forcing a retreat. “We have broken his psychology,” he declared, expressing confidence that Modi’s authority has been weakened.

Gandhi reiterated his belief in the power of love over hatred, emphasising the need to “open shops of love in every market of hatred” across India. He also spoke on the need to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that the revocation of its statehood marked the first time in India’s history that a state had been downgraded to a Union territory.

“We will continue to pressure the government, and if they don’t return statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, we will make sure it happens,” Gandhi vowed.