BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of insulting India abroad after his comments on democracy in Colombia, calling it a desperate attempt for political relevance.

New Delhi: The BJP launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after his remarks in Colombia describing an “attack on democracy” in India. Calling his comments baseless and damaging, the ruling party accused Gandhi of repeatedly undermining India’s image on foreign platforms for political mileage.

At a seminar in Medellín, Gandhi argued that India’s strength lies in its diversity of languages, traditions, and religions but warned that democracy—the system enabling this plurality—was “under attack.” He cautioned that without space for differing voices, India risked weakening its foundations.

The BJP swiftly countered, with senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad insisting that democracy in India remains vibrant, pointing out that Gandhi himself freely criticises the Prime Minister across the country. “You abuse the system daily and still claim there’s no democracy—this is hypocrisy,” Prasad said.

Party spokespersons Gaurav Bhatia and Amit Malviya also accused Gandhi of “degrading India abroad,” arguing that his repeated criticism is not dissent but disrespect. They linked his remarks to Congress’ electoral decline, calling him “desperate for power” and “out of touch with the people.”

While the political sparring continues, Gandhi’s comments highlight a persistent theme in Indian politics—the contest between projecting global credibility and addressing internal democratic concerns. For citizens, the issue goes beyond rhetoric, raising questions about whether disagreements should be debated at home or aired overseas.