Pune: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of defaming India and its democratic institutions at international events. Shah said Gandhi should stop travelling abroad and visit villages across the country if he wanted to return to power.

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Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the National Heavy Engineering Cooperative revival initiative in Pune, Shah targeted Gandhi over his participation in the Bharat Summit held in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14.

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Shah alleged that Gandhi had used the international platform to put forward what he described as anti-India views and undermine the country's democratic institutions and development record under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Congress' prince (referring to Gandhi) also attended this conference named 'Bharat Summit', where he defamed India at the international level by putting forth anti-Indian thoughts. He should understand that defaming India at international platforms will not help him come to power," Shah said.
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Shah targets Congress over electoral defeats

The Union minister accused the Congress of expressing frustration over repeated electoral defeats by criticising the country and its leadership on international platforms.

He also urged Congress workers to question their leadership over the party's electoral performance, warning that its current political approach could keep it out of power for another 30 years."Winning or losing elections depends on the performance of political parties and their leaders. The Congress got an opportunity to govern the country for 10 years (2004-14), but during its tenure, corruption of Rs 12 lakh crore took place. People eventually voted the party out of power and brought Narendra Modi to the Prime Minister's Office," Shah said.
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Shah defends Modi government's record

Shah claimed that the Modi government had maintained a corruption-free record over the past 12 years, with no allegations of wrongdoing against the Prime Minister.

Listing the government's achievements, he cited developments in agriculture, industry, the space programme, startups, railway modernisation, aviation infrastructure and education.

He referred to India's achievement of reaching the Moon's south pole, the expansion of the startup ecosystem, railway modernisation and an increase in the number of airports from 76 to 150.

The introduction of the National Education Policy and the establishment of a separate Ministry of Cooperation were also among the initiatives he highlighted.

Shah said political differences should not come in the way of protecting India's image and credibility before the international community.

"Whether it is the ruling party or the Opposition, or any political party, can anyone justify defaming India and its Prime Minister before an international audience?" he asked.

He further claimed that Gandhi was attempting to undermine India's development story and democracy before the international community, and said voters should respond to this through their votes.

"The country wants Rahul Gandhi to come to the ground, visit villages and understand people's concerns. But I know after a few days, he will once again travel abroad. His ambition of returning to power cannot be fulfilled in this manner," Shah said.

Taking another swipe at the Congress, Shah said that although there had been a demand for a separate ministry for the cooperative sector during its rule, it was the Modi government that eventually established one.