Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday firmly stated that he does not aspire to be a king and is fundamentally opposed to the very concept of kingship. He made the remark while speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long conclave titled “Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways” held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
As Gandhi took the stage, enthusiastic members of the audience began chanting slogans such as, “Is desh ka raja kaisa ho, Rahul Gandhi jaisa ho” (What should the king of this country be like? Like Rahul Gandhi). Interrupting the chants, Gandhi responded, “No boss, Main raja nahin hun. Raja banana bhi nahin chahta hun. Main raja ke against hun, concept ke bhi against hun,” meaning, “No boss, I am not the king. I don’t want to become a king. I am against kings, against the very concept.”
Gandhi has previously used similar language while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of behaving like a monarch rather than a democratically elected leader who listens to the voice of the people.
His latest comments underscore his long-standing criticism of centralized authority and reinforce his image as a leader who advocates participatory governance.
