Union Minister Kiren Rijiju took to the media on Sunday to slam Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the opposition chief spoke at a conference in Colombia. Reuters‑style reporters note that Rijiju said Gandhi was the first Leader of the Opposition to travel abroad and publicly criticize India’s government and democratic system.
Rijiju’s criticism
“We’ve heard what Rahul said in Colombia—India cannot lead the world,” Rijiju told . “That is wrong. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a global leader in many areas.” He warned that if foreign audiences keep hearing a single negative voice, they might think “everyone in India is like Rahul Gandhi.” According to Rijiju, this could hurt India’s reputation.
Rijiju also said the BJP’s response to Gandhi was not personal but political. “We don’t hold a grudge against him,” the minister said. “But when the Leader of the Opposition makes irresponsible statements, we have to respond.”
He pointed out that past leaders of the opposition—including Indira Gandhi, Lal Krishna Advani, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sushma Swaraj and Sharad Pawar—never made such remarks from abroad. “We have never seen another LoP go abroad and speak negatively about India or its democracy,” Rijiju added.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in Colombia
Gandhi’s speech at the École Internationale d’Administration (EIA) University in Colombia focused on what he called the biggest challenge facing India: an “attack on our democracy.” He praised India’s engineering and healthcare strengths but said the democratic system itself was under threat. “India is a country of many religions, traditions, and languages,” Gandhi said. “The democratic system gives each of these a space to thrive.”
He also accused the RSS‑BJP alliance of cowardice, saying that their ideology is “at the heart of their fear.” In the same speech, he referred to the foreign minister’s comments that China is more powerful than India. “If we pick a fight with them, it is cowardice at the core,” Gandhi said.
BJP’s response
The BJP has repeatedly called Gandhi’s remarks “anti‑India” and insulting. The party maintains that the opposition’s statements are designed to damage the country’s global standing.
Key takeaways
- Kiren Rijiju criticized Rahul Gandhi for being the first Leader of the Opposition to speak negatively about India abroad.
- Gandhi’s speech in Colombia highlighted perceived attacks on democracy and criticized the RSS‑BJP.
- The BJP’s response frames the remarks as an attack on India’s reputation.
These events underscore the deep political rift between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress, especially on issues of national identity, democracy, and international perception.
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