Key Points

He called him the "prince of Congress" who weakened the country, defamed it, and engaged in politics of sympathy.

Speaking to ANI, Vijay Kumar Sinha said, "Rahul Gandhi is the prince of Congress who weakens the country, defames it, and engages in politics of sympathy. He stands in favour of people like those involved in terrorism, extremism, corruption, and nepotism, aiming to create an atmosphere of anarchy. People with such a mentality are never acceptable to the country. People will never accept such people who are part of dynastic politics and those who consider politics as their estate."

The "cowardice" remarks made by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Colombia against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have created an uproar in the political circles. He also criticised the Narendra Modi government, claiming an "attack on India's democracy".

The BJP has jumped into the mounting controversy, raising strong objections against remarks made by Rahul Gandhi, labelling them as "anti-India" and "insulting" to the nation. A BJP leader said that it was Gandhi's nature to tarnish India's image abroad.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Gandhi of "insulting" India on foreign soil while defending the centre against his "attack on democracy" charge.

While addressing a press conference here, Prasad implied that Rahul Gandhi was making such remarks because he wants power. He further accused the LoP Lok Sabha of "abusing" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's development.

"Rahul Gandhi is abroad. It would have been nice if he had wished well, but he is attacking India. He says everything baseless. He says there is no democracy in India. There is complete democracy, but the problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he wants power," Prasad, who is a former Union Minister, said.

"In Bogota, Colombia, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi stated that there is no democracy in India and people don't have the freedom to speak. Rahul Gandhi abuses PM Modi, development of the nation, the most," he added.

The BJP MP stated that the public will not vote for Gandhi if he keeps on insulting India during his foreign trips. Prasad further noted that Gandhi's love for China was evident when he claimed that India could not be a global power.

"If you go abroad and insult India, the public will not vote for you, and you will not win the seats that you won this time. Now you're praising China, saying that India can't become a major global power, but China can lead the world. Today, India is the world's fourth-largest economy and is on track to become the third-largest. Your love for China is evident, and you never miss an opportunity to insult India. We strongly condemn this," Prasad said.

Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal slammed Gandhi, saying that the latter was becoming accustomed to defaming India on foreign soil.

"It has become a habit for Rahul Gandhi to defame the country's constitutional institutions abroad. The people of the country do not approve of this behaviour," the Union Minister told ANI.

Speaking at an event at EIA University of Colombia on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government, asserting that the biggest challenge India is witnessing is the attack on its democracy.

"India has strong capabilities in areas like engineering and healthcare, so I am very optimistic about the country. But at the same time, there are also flaws in the structure that India has to correct. The biggest challenge is the attack on democracy taking place in India," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader argued that the democratic system remains crucial for diversity, allowing different traditions, customs, and ideas, including religious beliefs, to thrive. However, he added, the democratic system in India is under attack, which is a "major risk" or threat.

"India has multiple religions, traditions, and languages -- in fact, the country is essentially a conversation between all these people and cultures. Different traditions, religions, and ideas require space, and the best method for creating that space is the democratic system," Gandhi said.

- ANI