The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its criticism of Sonia Gandhi and the Congress party, alleging that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, led by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was a mere "puppet" controlled by the Gandhi family and, indirectly, by foreign powers. These accusations, which have been recurring for several years, have resurfaced with renewed vigor, with the BJP claiming that crucial decisions were influenced by external entities during the UPA's tenure.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, addressing a press conference, referenced revelations made by former Union ministers P. Chidambaram and Manish Tewari, suggesting that the UPA government refrained from taking strong retaliatory action after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks due to undue influence. Bhatia stated that the Manmohan Singh government's failure to act decisively demonstrated that it had become "a puppet in the hands of foreign powers". He further alleged that while Sonia Gandhi held the "remote control" for Manmohan Singh, "foreign powers" controlled Sonia Gandhi.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MP Sambit Patra claimed that the UPA government consulted with the United States when deciding on cabinet ministers, citing Natwar Singh's autobiography as evidence. These allegations paint a picture of a government susceptible to external manipulation, compromising India's sovereignty and national interests.
This is not the first time the BJP has made such accusations. In the past, the party has asserted that Sonia Gandhi acted as a "Super Prime Minister" during the UPA regime, wielding considerable power without accountability. They pointed to the National Advisory Council (NAC), chaired by Sonia Gandhi, as an example of an extra-constitutional body that influenced policy-making. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also stated that 710 files were sent to the NAC for "permission". The NAC files made public in 2017 revealed how the committee influenced policy making in disinvestment, coal, power and real estate apart from social sectors. File notings also revealed that when it came to recommendations from Sonia Gandhi, her words were final.
In 2015, BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma accused Sonia Gandhi of "remote-controlling" Dr. Manmohan Singh regarding the allocation of coal blocks and other issues. Sharma stated that Sonia Gandhi prevented the transparent allocation of coal blocks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also repeatedly attacked the Congress, alleging that the UPA government was "remote-controlled". In 2018, while addressing a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh, Modi mocked Sonia Gandhi, stating that "for 10 years, there was a remote-controlled government in Delhi with Madam (Sonia Gandhi) controlling it". He has also challenged the Congress to appoint a party president who is not from the Gandhi family.
The Congress party has consistently denied these allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has refuted the charge that his government was remote-controlled by Sonia Gandhi. He stated that the Congress government functioned with synchronicity between the party and the government. K Raju, a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, also refuted the allegations and said that Sonia Gandhi only gave suggestions and requested that the government looks into a particular matter and never pass any order as is being suggested.
These recent accusations from the BJP come at a time when the political climate is already charged, with the next general election approaching. The BJP's strategy appears to be centered on undermining the credibility of the Congress party by portraying it as weak, indecisive, and susceptible to foreign influence. By raising questions about the UPA government's decision-making processes, the BJP aims to resonate with nationalist sentiments and further consolidate its support base.
