Rahul Gandhi has sharpened his criticism of the BJP, accusing the party of systematically dismantling Indian democracy by seizing control over key institutions and weaponizing agencies against its opponents. Speaking at an event at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha alleged that the BJP is proposing the "elimination of the Constitution" and charged the Union government with turning investigating agencies into political tools. He claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are being used to target political opponents while sparing those aligned with the ruling party.
Gandhi asserted that there are "virtually no cases against the BJP," while most political cases target those opposing the ruling party. He further alleged a quid pro quo in which sections of the business community support the BJP financially, receiving preferential treatment in return, instead of backing opposition parties. "There is a wholesale capture of our institutional framework. Our intelligence agencies, ED and CBI, have been weaponised," Gandhi stated. He added that if a businessman supports the Congress, they are threatened.
Gandhi vowed to build a "system of resistance" to counter what he described as the BJP's "capture of institutions". He stressed that the fight was not merely against the BJP as a party, but against what he termed its control over India's institutional system. "There is an attack on the democratic system. We have to find ways to counter this. We will create a system of opposition resistance that will succeed," Gandhi said.
Addressing the INDIA bloc, Gandhi acknowledged that alliance partners were contesting against each other in some state and local elections, calling these "tactical contests". However, he maintained that all parties in the INDIA alliance are united on the core question of opposing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worldview. He accused the BJP of seeking to undermine the Constitution and the principle of equality among states, languages, and religions.
In response to Gandhi's accusations, BJP leaders have dismissed his claims as baseless and politically motivated. They have accused Gandhi of propagating false narratives and attempting to tarnish India's image on international platforms. The BJP has also defended the autonomy and integrity of investigative agencies, asserting that they operate independently and without political interference. They have further stated that Congress is creating an atmosphere to threaten constitutional institutions and is trying to intimidate the judiciary.
