New Delhi/IBNS: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), declaring that they "have nothing to do with Hinduism" and that "there is nothing Hindu about what the BJP does...".

Gandhi was at an event in France on Sunday, Gandhi said, "I have read the Gita, a number of the Upanishads and many Hindu books... absolutely nothing Hindu about it (the BJP)... "

"I have not read anywhere in any Hindu book, or heard from any learned Hindu person, that you should terrorise or harm people weaker than you. This idea... this word - 'Hindu nationalist' - this is a wrong word. They are not 'Hindu nationalists'... they have nothing to do with Hinduism," Gandhi emphasised.

Interacting with students at Paris' Sciences PO University, he slammed the Indian government, accusing them of being "out to gain power at any cost".

"They (BJP and RSS) have nothing to do with Hinduism. They are out to gain power at any cost... and will do anything to ensure the caste structure and social structure of my country is not threatened," he said.

His comments came after a question about the "scary radicalisation of youth by Hindutva forces". This is not the first time he has attacked the BJP on this topic. In 2021, he called them "fake Hindus" who "use" religion for their benefit.

The Indian government often faces criticisms abroad over allegations about oppressing the oppositions' voices