The Bharatiya Janata Party launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, accusing him of collaborating with "anti-India forces" during his ongoing visit to Germany. At a press conference held at the party headquarters in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the Leader of Opposition was part of a larger conspiracy against the nation.
Allegations of Foreign Conspiracy and Soros Links
Bhatia presented a photograph purportedly showing Rahul Gandhi with Cornelia Woll, the president of the Berlin-based Hertie School. He claimed this as evidence of Gandhi's interaction with forces hostile to India. Bhatia further alleged that Woll is a trustee of the Central European University, which he stated is funded by the Open Society Foundation of US billionaire George Soros.
"If anyone meets anti-India forces and insults Bharat from foreign soil, it's none other than Rahul," Bhatia charged. He escalated the rhetoric by declaring, "George Soros and Rahul Gandhi are two bodies but one soul." The BJP reiterated its longstanding claim that Soros makes anti-India statements and funds activities to create unrest in the country.
Questioning the timing of Gandhi's foreign visits, Bhatia asked, "What kind of anti-India agenda is it that the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is hatching a conspiracy against Bharat by joining hands with such anti-India forces?" He accused Gandhi of frequently travelling abroad during or ahead of Parliament sessions to meet people "jealous of India and attack its integrity."
Criticism of Gandhi's Remarks on Indian Manufacturing
The BJP's allegations came in response to Gandhi's activities in Germany, where he toured the BMW headquarters in Munich. In videos shared by the Congress party, Gandhi criticised the state of manufacturing in India, stating it was "declining" and that the country needed to "produce more" to accelerate growth and create quality jobs.
BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra strongly objected to these remarks, accusing Gandhi of running down the country from foreign soil while Parliament was in session. Patra emphasised that the Leader of Opposition carries a "huge responsibility" and must act with restraint abroad.
"Today, we saw Rahul Gandhi visiting the BMW factory in Munich and there, he appreciated their manufacturing and said that he is sad that manufacturing is poor in India," Patra stated. He rejected Gandhi's claim, citing official data to assert that India's manufacturing sector was, in fact, on a growth path.
Historical Allegations and Political Fallout
Bhatia framed this as part of a pattern, alleging this was not the first time Gandhi had defamed India during foreign visits. "This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi is indulging in such anti-national activities," he asserted, controversially comparing the Congress leader to "Mir Zafar," a historical figure often synonymous with betrayal.
The BJP spokesperson also revived allegations made earlier in February, when he had claimed that organisations linked to George Soros were involved in anti-India activities. Bhatia had previously alleged that funding to certain NGOs was significantly higher during the Congress-led UPA government compared to the current BJP administration.
Bhatia concluded his attack by stating, "George Soros is not an Indian; he is a foreigner. But Rahul Gandhi has taken the oath of protecting the Constitution." He added, "These snakelets within India need to be treated. People of the country are demanding it." The political row underscores the intense and ongoing friction between the ruling BJP and the principal opposition party on matters of national image and diplomacy.
