Ruckus over Rahul’s statement on Indian democracy
Rahul Gandhi was on a visit to London last week. He had received an invitation to the Cambridge Lecture. Rahul said in a media interaction on the sidelines of the Cambridge lecture there that democracy has been murdered in India. Democracy is dead there since long. Rahul did not stop here, he even went on to say that America and Europe, who call themselves the so-called protectors of democracy, have to understand that India’s democracy is not only important for India, it is also important for them. BJP is calling this statement as anti-India. He says that Rahul Gandhi has invited America-Europe to interfere in India’s politics as Mani Shankar Aiyar, a senior leader of his own party has done. Aiyar had said in Pakistan that it (Pakistan) should help the Congress to come to power by changing the government in India. BJP is describing Rahul’s visit to London as part two of Congress’s anti-India campaign.
BJP attacked in Parliament
On the statement of Rahul Gandhi, there was a deep churning among political analysts in India and it is still happening. Everyone is considering the question whether Rahul Gandhi’s statement on Indian democracy is in the interest of the Congress party or will it be the reason for further sinking? Whatever the analyst fraternity may feel, but BJP has decided that this issue will be raked as much as it can be raked politically. Under this strategy, the BJP became aggressive as soon as it got a chance in the Parliament session today. BJP has also strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi’s allegations like turning off the mike in BBC, Pegasus and Parliament. Rahul had said in London that the democratic structure of any country rests on Parliament, free press and judiciary. Today in India, the guard is increasing on all these. Citing the example of ED raids on BBC’s offices after the ban on the documentary, he said that voice is being suppressed everywhere in India.
He also accuses of turning off the mike in Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi also raised the Pegasus issue during his visit to London. He said that opposition leaders were spied on through Pegasus. Keep in mind that the case of Pegasus has gone to the Supreme Court where 29 phones were submitted for investigation. Malware was found in five of these phones, but it was Pegasus itself, it could not be confirmed. The Supreme Court also said that there is no evidence that this malware was spying on politicians. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi raised the issue in London. However, the BJP is also furious over Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that opposition parties are not allowed to speak in Parliament. Rahul repeatedly says that when he speaks in Parliament, his mike is switched off. The former Congress President repeated the same thing in London. However, speaking on the motion of thanks for the President’s address, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had also told Rahul Gandhi that you (Rahul) always get a full chance to speak. Birla told Rahul not to say that his mike is switched off as it is not correct.
What is the attitude of BJP?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also reacted sharply to Rahul Gandhi’s London statements. He said in Karnataka on Sunday that there has been an attempt to tarnish India’s image across the world. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, he said that the country has been harmed through an international platform. He said that no power in the world can shake the roots of Indian democracy. Surely this statement of PM is referring to the statement of Rahul Gandhi in which he has claimed the death of democracy in India. However, assembly elections are due in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Telangana this year. It has to be seen what effect Rahul Gandhi’s London statements have on the elections there. But the way Defense Minister Rajnath Singh took a stand against Rahul Gandhi as soon as the proceedings of the Lok Sabha began, one can get an idea of the attitude of the BJP.