Congress leaders rallied behind Rahul Gandhi on Friday after his bold comments about an “attack on democracy” in India. Speaking at EIA University in Colombia, Gandhi highlighted how the country’s rich mix of religions, traditions, and languages thrives in a true democracy. But he warned that this system now faces threats from every direction.
Senior Congress figure Rashid Alvi backed Gandhi’s words, telling that India’s democracy is clearly weakening. “Rahul doesn’t throw around tough language without reason,” Alvi said. He pointed to the farmers’ peaceful protests that dragged on for two years, only to get shut down. Then there’s the arbitrary arrests of innocent people in Pahalgam, which he called a direct hit to democratic rights. Alvi also raised alarms over how the Waqf Act is being enforced and the recent Special Intensive Revision that wiped out 70 lakh votes from rolls. He tied it back to Gandhi’s point: Before the current government took over, Indians felt real pride in their nation. “What bigger blow to democracy is that?” Alvi asked, urging the BJP to address these issues before criticizing Gandhi.
Congress MP Tariq Anwar echoed the concerns, zeroing in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches abroad since 2014. Modi once said Indians didn’t feel strong or proud before his time in office, even questioning why they were born in India. Anwar argued these remarks paint a negative picture of the country and chip away at national pride, hurting democracy in the process. “When the PM badmouths his own nation on foreign soil, it damages our image and democratic spirit,” Anwar said. He added that the government cracks down on dissent, and Modi’s 11-year media blackout sends a bad signal for transparency in elections and governance.
Not everyone agrees, though. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam fired back, insisting India’s democracy is strong and thriving with public backing. “The real danger is to the Congress party itself,” Nirupam said. He accused Gandhi of launching a global PR stunt to boost his party’s fading support, using democracy as a cover to tarnish India’s international reputation. For Nirupam, the crisis is inside Congress, not in the democratic system.
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