Rahul Gandhi insulted India in London, should apologize: Rajnath Singh
What's the story
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has become the latest Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to attack Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent comments on India during his United Kingdom (UK) tour, in which he allegedly slammed the Indian government over a number of issues.
Singh, in his address in the Lok Sabha on Monday, said that the Congress MP should "apologize before the House."
Context
Why does this story matter?
In his speech at Cambridge University a week ago, Gandhi alleged that the democracy in India was under attack and numerous politicians, including himself, were being spied on.
With the general election just a year away, Congress has been on the offensive against the BJP over matters such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary on PM Narendra Modi and the Adani Group-Hindenburg controversy.
Details
Gandhi's statements should be condemned: Singh
Speaking in the Lower House of the Parliament, Singh stated, "Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of this House, insulted India in London."
While demanding an apology from him, the defense minister added, "I demand that his statements should be condemned by all members of this House, and he should be asked to apologize before the House."
More details
Gandhi said foreign forces should save India's democracy: Singh
Later, Singh also took to Twitter and wrote in Hindi, "Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who is a member of the Lok Sabha, has gone to London and tried to defame India and said that the democratic system in India is completely collapsing."
"He has also said that foreign forces should save India's democracy," the BJP leader added.
Twitter Post
Video of Singh's Lok Sabha address
श्री राहुल गांधी, जो लोकसभा के सदस्य हैं, उन्होंने लंदन में जाकर भारत को बदनाम करने की कोशिश की है और कहा है कि भारत में लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था पूरी तरह से तहस-नहस हो रही है।
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 13, 2023
उन्होंने यह भी कहा है कि विदेशी ताकतों को भारत के लोकतंत्र को बचाना चाहिए। pic.twitter.com/0JHsP06e0L
Information
Other BJP leaders back Singh's statement
Backing Singh's argument, Union minister Piyush Goyal stated that it was "shameful" that a senior leader insulted the democracy of India on foreign soil. Several other BJP ministers also joined their voices in support of Singh's statement, resulting in chaos and adjournment of the House.
Response
Congress hits back at BJP over comments against Gandhi
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, responded to the BJP by stating, "Those crushing and destroying democracy are talking of saving it."
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which attended a joint opposition meeting on Monday ahead of the Budget Session's second leg, also backed the Congress.
However, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) stayed away.
Know more
Details on Gandhi's lecture at Cambridge University
The entire dispute started when Gandhi attacked the Modi-led central government during his lecture at Cambridge University on February 28.
During his lecture on Learning to Listen in the 21st Century, the former Congress president alleged that India was "facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy" and that Israeli spyware Pegasus was being used to spy on numerous opposition leaders.
Further information
India's democracy under attack: Gandhi
"Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack," Gandhi had alleged during the lecture.
"The institutional framework which is required for a democracy... Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilization...these are all getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," the Congress leader added.