Rahul Gandhi ‘textbook example’ of separatism in Indian politics: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) accused Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi of being “an ideal textbook example and case study of separatism in Indian politics”. The party dismissed as baseless his allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “suppressing” Tamil voices.

At a press conference, BJP spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said contrary to Mr. Gandhi’s charge, Mr. Modi’s had an 11-year record of extending the highest honour to the Tamil language, culture, and tradition, and highlighting them globally via United Nations, G20, Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, and Sengol installation in Parliament.

Terming the LoP’s statement “illogical”, he alleged that Mr. Gandhi and all the Opposition leaders, from time to time, were continuously trying to create obstacles to peace and stability by “spreading regionalism, casteism, and linguistic chauvinism”.

“For the first time in the history of the country, the Tamil language has received respect and representation not only within India but also on global platforms...this has been possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the United Nations, during his address, he mentioned a phrase from the ancient Tamil text Punanuru...,” said Mr. Paswan.

Mr. Modi also referred to the Thirukkural from time to time and, in his “Mann Ki Baat” address, placed special emphasis on the need for people to learn the Tamil language as well, he said. “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India, Great India) is not just a slogan, but our commitment,” he said.

He alleged that Mr. Gandhi made attempts to create divisions on caste lines during his visits to Bihar, and indulged in “negative politics in the name of Tamil identity” whenever in Tamil Nadu.

Listing the initiatives taken under Mr. Modi, the BJP leader said: “An important example is that in Fiji, the Indian government ensured that Tamil teaching programmes were started there...at the University of Houston, USA, a Tamil Chair was established for the Tamil and other Indian diaspora...at Banaras Hindu University, the Subramanian Bharati Chair has been established for Tamil studies.”

During “Pariksha Pe Charcha”, the Prime Minister appealed to the student community from North India to also learn Tamil. “In the temple of democracy, when the historic Sengol was installed, the whole world saw that Mr. Modi gave national honour to the Tamil tradition, philosophy, and glorious civilisational heritage of the Chola era,” said Mr. Paswan.

Stating that Mr. Modi took deep interest, and actively participated, in Tamil festivals, the BJP leader said on Wednesday, he joined the Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister L. Murugan. Mr. Modi organised the historic Kashi-Tamil Sangam in his Lok Sabha constituency.

“This is the first time that a central government has shown such commitment towards Tamil society and Tamil culture in its important responsibilities,” he said, pointing out that the Finance Minister, the External Affairs Minister, and Mr. Murugan, “son of a labourer belonging to the Dalit community and Scheduled Caste”, are from Tamil Nadu. “This is proof of the clear commitment of the BJP... by making C.P. Radhakrishnan Ji the Vice-President, the same message was given,” he said.