Recent remarks by Rahul Gandhi have stirred controversy, drawing strong reactions from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who has accused the Congress leader of making "anti-India" statements and undermining the nation's image. The accusations come in the wake of Gandhi's allegations of "vote theft" against the Election Commission and his criticism of the Indian economy.
Rijiju has been particularly vocal in his disapproval of Gandhi's statements. He has asserted that Gandhi, as a senior leader and Leader of the Opposition, should refrain from making remarks that could harm the country's reputation. Rijiju has also criticized Gandhi for allegedly disrupting Parliament and for what he sees as a pattern of making contradictory statements inside and outside the legislative body. "Rahul Gandhi is not a child," Rijiju stated, emphasizing the need for responsible behavior from a leader of his stature.
Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission (EC) have added another layer to the controversy. He has claimed that the EC was involved in "vote theft" to benefit the BJP, a charge that the EC has vehemently denied, dismissing the allegations as "baseless" and "irresponsible". Gandhi has stated that he possesses "100% proof" of electoral manipulation, promising to reveal evidence of manipulated voter lists. He even went so far as to call the evidence a "political atom bomb" and threatened action against Election Commission officials.
The Election Commission has responded to Gandhi's accusations by asserting that electoral rolls were shared with all political parties, including the Congress, and that any discrepancies could have been appealed. The EC urged election officials to continue working fairly and transparently, despite the "daily threats and baseless allegations".
Adding to the furor, Gandhi has also echoed criticisms of the Indian economy, initially made by former US President Donald Trump, describing it as "dead". He claimed that everyone except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is aware of the economic situation. Rijiju has also rebuked Gandhi for these remarks, saying that they tarnish India's image and credibility. He also stated that several opposition leaders have also said that these remarks are not right.
Some members of Gandhi's own party have distanced themselves from his remarks on the economy, with leaders like Rajeev Shukla, Shashi Tharoor, and Karti Chidambaram disagreeing with Trump's assessment.
Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi's recent claim that the late Arun Jaitley threatened him over the farm laws has ignited a fresh war of words between the BJP and Congress. Gandhi alleged that Jaitley warned him of action if he continued to oppose the farm laws. The BJP has strongly refuted these claims, with Rohan Jaitley, son of the late Arun Jaitley, pointing out that his father passed away in 2019, before the farm laws were enacted.
The ongoing controversy highlights the deep political divisions in India and raises questions about the responsibility of political leaders in their public statements. The accusations and counter-accusations have created a charged atmosphere, with both sides digging in for a protracted battle.
