Rahul Gandhi's Remarks in Colombia Spark Debate

During his visit to Colombia, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress figure, lauded the success of Indian automobile giants Bajaj, Hero, and TVS. According to Gandhi, these companies exemplify success through innovation rather than relying on cronyism. In a message shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Gandhi wrote, 'Proud to see Bajaj, Hero & TVS do so well in Colombia. Shows Indian companies can win with innovation, not cronyism. Great job.'

However, his remarks haven't been free from dissent back home. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly, perceiving Gandhi's statements as problematic. Speaking at an event at EIA University in Colombia, Gandhi flagged what he believes are systemic issues in India's governance. He emphasized the importance of embracing India's diverse traditions and expressed concerns about the current state of democracy, saying, '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.'

The BJP swiftly condemned Gandhi's statements, with leaders labeling them as anti-national and damaging. Rajasthan Minister of State (MoS) Jawahar Singh Bedham criticized Gandhi's 'attack on democracy' remarks, accusing him of damaging India's reputation internationally. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad argued that Gandhi's comments are motivated by a desire for power, stating, 'Rahul Gandhi is abroad. It would have been nice if he had wished well, but he is attacking India. He says everything is 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 further noted that such comments could impact Gandhi's electoral prospects, having suggested that it demonstrates a preference for foreign powers like China over India's potential global leadership.

(With inputs from agencies.)