Union Minister Smiriti Irani criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent comments on India’s democracy during his visit to the UK, stating that India’s democracy is not in danger, but his party has been brought to “political perish” due to the type of “behavior” that he exhibited abroad.
According to Irani, Gandhi’s feud with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resulted in a feud with India. During his interactions in the UK, Gandhi claimed that Indian democracy’s structures are under threat, and the country’s institutions are facing a “full-scale assault.”
His remarks sparked a political controversy, with the BJP accusing him of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions, while the Congress responded by citing instances of Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing internal politics abroad.
Irani criticized Gandhi for his comments, questioning whether it is democratic when the Gandhi family directs Congress members to tear papers and throw them at the Speaker’s chair in Lok Sabha or directs members of Rajya Sabha to tear books, jump on tables, and humiliate the Chair of the Vice President of India in Parliament.
She emphasized that every Indian citizen is owed an apology from Gandhi, stating that Parliament is not just a collection of parliamentarians, but the voice of the people of India and “the Constitutional reflection” of their will.
Irani accused Gandhi of avoiding Parliament instead of apologizing for his undemocratic remarks against India. She further added, “Democracy, Mr. Gandhi, is not in peril. The Congress party has been brought to political perish by the people of India for this very behavior that you exhibited against the nation-state overseas.”
India has a vibrant democracy with a diverse population, and its democratic values are firmly enshrined in the Constitution. However, over the past few years, there have been concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and the stifling of dissent under the current government.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have been vocal in criticizing the government for its handling of various issues, including the recent farmers’ protest and the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The ruling BJP has often accused the opposition of indulging in anti-national activities and seeking foreign intervention to destabilize the government.
Smiriti Irani’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on India’s democracy highlights the ongoing political polarization in India. While the ruling party and the opposition are engaged in a war of words, it is crucial to ensure that democratic institutions remain strong and that dissenting voices are not silenced.
