Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a scathing attack on Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi over his statement in Colombia, saying that no patriotic citizens should criticise their country outside their own country.
Sharpening his attacks, Singh further said tarnishing one’s country’s reputation in the world is a “crime” against the country.
Addressing the reporters here, the Union Minister said, “No patriotic citizen, irrespective of his political position, should criticise his country outside his own country. I believe that tarnishing one’s country’s reputation in the world is a crime against the country. We can discuss amongst ourselves in our country; Parliament is the platform, but we should not defame our country in the world.”
Earlier today, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed Rahul Gandhi’s remark that “Indian democracy is under attack”.
Trivedi questioned Gandhi’s democratic credentials, calling him the new head of a family that “kept the monarchy alive in the Congress by wearing the cloak of democracy”.
“There cannot be anything more ridiculous and ironic than those who kept the monarchy alive by wearing the cloak of democracy for 100 years, giving a speech in a democracy, and that too against the biggest symbol of democracy, PM Narendra Modi,” Trivedi said in a press conference.
Rahul Gandhi had accused the BJP-led central government of mounting a “wholesale attack on Indian democracy” during an interaction at EIA University in Colombia.
“The family has been ruling the Congress for 00 years. Panicked by the downfall of his organisation and loss of power, the head of that family, who today seems to be becoming the henchman of anti-India forces, has, as per his habit, made another statement from foreign soil, which is not surprising,” Trivedi added.
Speaking at an event at EIA University of Colombia, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government, asserting that the biggest challenge India is witnessing is the attack on its democracy.
“India has strong capabilities in areas like engineering and healthcare, so I am very optimistic about the country. But at the same time, there are also flaws in the structure that India has to correct. The biggest challenge is the attack on democracy taking place in India,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader argued that the democratic system remains crucial for diversity, allowing different traditions, customs, and ideas, including religious beliefs, to thrive. However, he added, the democratic system in India is under attack, which is a “major risk” or threat.
“Currently, there is a wholesale attack on this democratic system, and that is a major risk. Another big risk is the tension between different conceptions in parts of the country. With 16-17 major languages and many religions, it is crucial to allow these diverse traditions to thrive and give them the space they need,” he added.
Gandhi also attacked the RSS-BJP duo, saying that “cowardice” was at the heart of their ideology.
“This is the nature of BJP-RSS. If you notice a statement of the foreign minister, he said, ‘China is much more powerful than us. How can I pick a fight with them?’ At the heart of the ideology is cowardice,” the Congress leader said.
The BJP has raised strong objections against remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, labelling them as “anti-India” and “insulting” to the nation. A BJP leader said that it was Gandhi’s nature to tarnish India’s image abroad.
(with inputs from ANI)
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