Rahul Gandhi in distress due to attacks on Hamas, Hezbollah; not right to attack him now: Acharya Pramod Krishnam

In a sarcastic tone, he also urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to refrain from criticising the LoP, citing Gandhi's "emotional distress".

Speaking to ANI, Krishnam said, "Amit Shah should not attack Rahul Gandhi at this time because Rahul Gandhi is very sad due to the attack on Hezbollah. He is very sad about the destruction of Hamas at this time. Rahul Gandhi is hurt by the attack on Hezbollah; it is not right to attack him."

"It has been Indian tradition that when a person is sad. One gets the news of the destruction of his close ones, feels sad and the sad person is not attacked," he added.

Notably, the Congress party has been critical of Israeli actions in Gaza, which have led to massive civilian casualties after Israel launched massive operations following the terror attacks by Hamas on October 7.

Recently, during his US visit, Rahul Gandhi acknowledged that what happened on October 7 was "absolutely wrong", but added that Israel's action of "bombing innocent civilians, and killing women and children", is absolutely wrong and "should not be allowed to continue."

Earlier, in the party manifesto for Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party criticised the BJP government's position on the Gaza conflict and pledged to restore "India's global reputation as a voice of peace and moderation in world affairs."

Attacking Rahul Gandhi further, the former Congress leader said that if the LoP goes to Haryana, he will leave no stone unturned to "ruin" Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda's hard work.

"I have full faith that the blessings of Maa Bhagwati will remain on the people of Haryana during Navratri...Congress's election campaign is going very well because of Hooda ji; a few days are left. If Rahul Gandhi goes there, he will leave no stone unturned to ruin Hooda's hard work. There is an election in Navratri; voting is in Navratri and the election results will come in Navratri. Those who talk of eradicating Sanatan, oppose Ram and oppose Bhagwati's power, I don't think Maa's blessings will be on them," he said.

Earlier, Shah, while addressing a rally in Gurugram, asked the people to cast their vote on October 5, during the Navratri festival, as a response to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party's alleged insult to 'Shakti'.

"On October 3, Navratri is going to begin, and you have to vote on October 5. You have to answer to Congress and Rahul Gandhi. While casting your vote, you have to give an answer to Rahul Gandhi and his Congress, who insulted Shakti. They have got blind for appeasement," Shah said.

Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, he asked the Lok Sabha LoP why his party leaders are raising such slogans and why he is quiet on this matter.

"I want to ask Rahul Gandhi that when the leaders and workers of your party are raising the slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad', why are you quiet? The Congress is blinded by appeasement. Tell me, people of Badhsapur, Is Kashmir ours or not? Should Article 370 have been removed or not? Congress and Rahul Baba say that they will bring Article 370 back," he said.

Haryana goes to the polls on October 5 to elect a 90-member state legislative assembly to form its next government, with the counting set to take place on October 8. In 2019, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 40 seats. Congress won 30 seats. (ANI)