"Anti-India, remote control in foreign hands": BJP's Pradeep Bhandari slams Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Colombia

New Delhi [India], October 2 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Thursday lashed out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's "attack on democracy" remarks in Colombia, and labelled the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha as "anti-India".
He claimed that Gandhi's remote control was in "foreign hands".
Intensifying his attack, Bhandari accused the Gandhi family of "keeping India poor" and said that Rahul Gandhi was attacking India's progress and its democracy out of "jealousy and disgust".
"Rahul Gandhi is anti-India. The one who hates India and its progress can speak such things on foreign soil that India can't be a leader. The Gandhi-Vadra family kept India poor due to such a mindset. When they see that India has emerged as a global leader and a four trillion-dollar economy under PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi is attacking India's progress and its democracy out of jealousy and disgust," Bhandari told ANI.
The BJP leader further stated that Rahul Gandhi was not a political opponent, but a leader of "opposing India".
"This makes it clear that Rahul Gandhi's remote control is in foreign hands. Those who don't want India to progress push Rahul Gandhi to say such things. He is not a political opponent, but leader of opposing India. He is against India's unity and integrity. 140 crore Indians are witnessing Rahul Gandhi's attempt to defame India from foreign soil," Bhandari said.
His remarks come after Gandhi on Thursday took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government, asserting that the biggest challenge India is witnessing is the attack on its democracy.
Speaking at an event at EIA University of Colombia, Gandhi highlighted the issue of "structural flaws" and suggested that the country's diverse traditions must be allowed to thrive.
"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.
"Currently, there is a wholesale attack on this democratic system, and that is a major risk. Another big risk is the tension between different conceptions in parts of the country. With 16-17 major languages and many religions, it is crucial to allow these diverse traditions to thrive and give them the space they need," he added.
Furthermore, Gandhi lashed out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that "cowardice" was at the heart of their ideology.
"This is the nature of BJP-RSS. If you notice a statement of the foreign minister, he said, 'China is much more powerful than us. How can I pick a fight with them?' At the heart of the ideology is cowardice," the Congress leader said. (ANI)