The Congress on Thursday sparked a fresh controversy by announcing to scrap the triple talaq law and remove RSS loyalists who allegedly have made inroads in the Government’s institutions if the party comes to power after the Lok Sabha elections.

Alleging that the RSS was trying to capture the institutions of the country, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “We have not merely formed Governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh... We will ensure that RSS people put in institutions in these States are removed.”

Asserting that the Congress is determined to protect the sanctity of democratic institutions, Rahul said his party believes that institutions in India belong to the country and not any party. “They think they are above the country. In three months’ time, the country is going to teach them a lesson that the country is above them (BJP and RSS),” he said.

The Congress chief alleged that the RSS was attempting to capture the country’s institutions, from the judiciary to the Election Commission.

He also alleged that Modi was the face but the Government was being run by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

“With Narendra Modi as PM, four Supreme Court judges come out and say that ‘we are not being allowed to work’ and in the same line take the name of Justice Loya and indirectly say that BJP president Amit Shah is not allowing the Supreme Court to do its work,” Rahul said, referring to judge BH Loya who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and died in Nagpur on December 1, 2014.

Rahul also alleged that while China sent its Army to Doklam, the Prime Minister flew to China and held a summit without an agenda. He had folded his hands in front of China, Rahul alleged.

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul described him as a “darpok” (coward) and dared him to a five minute face-to-face debate on issues such as Rafale and national security.

“I know his (Modi) character after fighting with him for five years...I say to BJP leaders... Make Narendra Modi stand with me on stage for five minutes and debate on national security, Rafale,” Rahul said.

In a speech laced with sarcasm, the Gandhi scion did not spare Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, mocking him for allegedly taking instructions from the British. He urged his party’s workers to face the RSS, the BJP and Modi with all their might.

The Congress chief said fear was writ large on Modi’s face and asserted that those who spread hatred will be defeated. Declaring that the “image of Narendra Modi is finished”, Rahul said, “He now knows you can’t rule India by dividing people.”

Meanwhile, addressing the Congress’ Minority Department convention, Lok Sabha MP Sushmita Dev announced to scrap the triple talaq law if her party forms the Government in 2019. Dev alleged that Modi had created an atmosphere pitting Muslim women against Muslim men through the triple talaq law.

“A lot of people told us that women will be empowered if the triple talaq Bill is passed. But we opposed that law because it is a weapon that Narendra Modi ji has prepared to put Muslim men in jail and make them stand in police stations,” said Dev, who is also the All India Mahila Congress chief.

She hailed Muslim women from all parts of the country for writing “crores of letters, carrying out signature campaigns and rebelling against” the law. “The Congress party stood up and opposed it in Parliament. I promise you people that a Congress Government will come in 2019 and we will scrap this law. But it is also certain that whatever law is brought for women’s empowerment, by whichever government, the Congress will support it,” Dev said.