NEW DELHI: After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement in the UK where he sought the intervention of the US and Europe to restore democracy in India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit out at the Wayanad MP alleging him of shaming and mocking the country and its people from a foreign land.
Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “It’s utterly shameful that Rahul Gandhi, from a foreign land, has tried to hurt the spirits of India’s consensus on the subject that no foreign country must intervene in India’s internal affairs.”
Prasad urged Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge to clear the party’s stand over Rahul Gandhi’s statement in which he sought America and Europe’s interference to restore democracy in India.
The BJP MP said Rahul Gandhi has sought to shame India’s Democracy from a foreign land.
“Rahul Gandhi through his lectures in London has made a mockery of India’s polity, Parliament, judicial system, strategic security and its people. We ask Congress president Kharge if you feel that you are an elected president of Congress, do you support this irresponsible and shameful comment of Rahul Gandhi that ‘America and Europe must intervene in India to restore democracy’? If you do not support Rahul Gandhi’s statement, then disown it,” stated Ravi Shankar Prasad.
The BJP leader’s remarks came after Rahul Gandhi in the UK said, “Why Europe and the US – the defenders of democracies were oblivious of how a huge chunk of democracy in India has come undone?”
The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi is under the influence of “anarchist and Maoist elements”.
In reference to former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prasad questioned, “Sonia Gandhi Ji, BJP would like to urge you to make your stand very clear – where do you stand in the face of this utterly irresponsible statement of your son asking for interference by America and Europe to restore democracy in India?”
The BJP leader termed Rahul Gandhi’s remark as an “utterly irresponsible statement” and “shameful”.
“Rahul Gandhi ji, you stop insulting India on foreign soil. If the country defeats you, again and again, do not take out its anger by going abroad,” added Prasad.
Countering the Wayanad MP’s remarks on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Prasad said, ” Sangh has done a great service for the nation. It is dedicated to the nation. Nehru ji used to criticize Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Indira ji also used to criticize, Rajiv ji also used to criticize and Rahul ji also used to criticize RSS. Now see, where did the Sangh reach and where did you end up?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the RSS a “fundamentalist” and “fascist” organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India’s institutions.
He said, “The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS – a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India’s institutions.”
Rahul Gandhi further said Europe and the US are not doing enough to restore democracy in India as they are getting trade and money from the country. The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat.
“It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other,” Rahul Gandhi said. (ANI)