Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday sharply criticized Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for his remarks made at an event in Colombia, accusing him of tarnishing India’s image abroad and undermining the country’s democratic institutions.
Rijiju: “No Other LoP Has Ever Spoken Against the Nation Abroad”
In an interview with ANI, Rijiju said Rahul Gandhi had become the first-ever Leader of Opposition to make statements abroad that demean the country.
“Show me one LoP who has ever gone outside India and spoken against the country or the government. Rahul Gandhi is the first LoP who goes abroad and criticizes India, our system, and our democracy,” Rijiju said.
Responding to Gandhi’s claim that India cannot become a global leader under the current conditions, the Union Minister said such statements misrepresent the nation’s progress and create a false image internationally.
“India has intelligent people, good leaders, and strong ideology. But when Rahul Gandhi speaks like this, it sends a wrong message that such negative voices dominate India. That’s not true,” he added.
Earlier, Rijiju had urged Gandhi to be “mindful” while speaking overseas, saying,
“Within India, criticism is fine. But abroad, one must be careful — our nation’s image is at stake.”
Rahul Gandhi’s Colombia Remarks Trigger Political Row
A major political controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi’s comments during his interaction at EIA University in Colombia, where he claimed that democracy in India was under attack.
“India has strong capabilities in engineering and healthcare, and I’m optimistic about its future. But there are flaws in our structure. The biggest challenge is the attack on democracy happening in India,” Gandhi said.
He argued that India’s diverse traditions, languages, and religions can only flourish under a strong democratic system, but that system, he warned, is “under threat.”
“India cannot function like China by suppressing people. Our design will not accept an authoritarian model,” he added.
BJP’s Strong Rebuttal
The BJP hit back at Gandhi, accusing him of defaming the country on foreign soil.
Calling him a “Leader of Propaganda,” party leaders said Gandhi “goes abroad and attacks Indian democracy,” showing “disrespect for the mandate of the people.”
