‘Speak in India, not Germany’: BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over ‘vote theft’ claim

New Delhi: Senior BJP leaders on Tuesday strongly criticised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for reiterating allegations of electoral malpractice while speaking in Germany, accusing him of repeatedly questioning India’s democratic institutions on foreign platforms.

The BJP reaction followed Rahul Gandhi’s address at the Hertie School in Berlin, where he spoke at a session titled “Politics Is The Art Of Listening”. During the interaction, Gandhi once again raised concerns about the fairness of elections in India, alleging what he described as “vote theft” and irregularities in voter lists.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari launched a personal attack on Gandhi, claiming his remarks reflected a lack of commitment to national leadership.

 

“Rahul Gandhi has already proven that he has no interest in becoming a leader of India,” Tiwari said. “According to Rahul Gandhi’s thinking, India should not even think about becoming a world guru (Vishwaguru). This shows how big an enemy these people are of India.”

Tiwari also highlighted India’s economic trajectory while responding to Gandhi’s criticism. “Today, among the world’s economically prosperous countries, India ranks fourth. We will very soon be in third place,” he added.

‘Say it in India’: BJP questions choice of international platform

Echoing similar views, Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal criticised Gandhi’s decision to raise domestic political issues abroad.

“Whenever Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he always speaks against India,” Jaiswal said. “For this, the people of the country will never forgive him. Whatever he has to say about the country, he should say it on platforms connected to the country.”

The BJP framed Gandhi’s remarks as damaging to India’s global image, accusing him of undermining confidence in constitutional bodies, particularly the Election Commission of India.

Gandhi reiterates election fairness concerns

During his Berlin address, Rahul Gandhi defended the Opposition’s stance, saying questions around electoral integrity were being consistently raised within India as well.

“We have won elections in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh. We have been raising concerns about the fairness of elections in India,” Gandhi said.

He claimed that the Congress and other Opposition parties had submitted evidence to the Election Commission and were seeking answers regarding alleged discrepancies. Referring to voter list anomalies, Gandhi alleged, “A Brazilian woman was there on the voting list 22 times in Haryana.”

Gandhi also questioned the conduct of recent state elections, claiming the Congress had won the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections and alleging that the Maharashtra Assembly elections were “not fair”.

Allegations of institutional pressure

Beyond electoral issues, Gandhi alleged a broader erosion of institutional independence in India. He described what he called a “full-scale assault” on institutions and accused the Centre of “weaponising” investigative agencies.

He further suggested that business interests were being pressured to financially support the BJP, implying a quid pro quo between political power and corporate backing.

Political battle extends overseas

Rahul Gandhi is currently on a five-day visit to Germany. His comments have once again sharpened the political divide between the BJP and the Congress, with the ruling party portraying his remarks as anti-national, while the Opposition maintains that raising concerns about democratic processes is a legitimate political act.

The episode underscores how domestic political battles continue to spill onto international stages, keeping the debate over India’s electoral processes firmly in the spotlight.
(With ANI inputs)