Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Monday, 25 May launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks predicting the fall of the Modi government, calling the comments 'regrettable' and accusing the Indian National Congress of deploying a 'destructive toolkit' to spread instability during a period of global uncertainty.

What Bhatia Said at the Press Conference

Addressing reporters at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Bhatia alleged that Gandhi's prediction — that the Modi government would collapse within a year — was part of a deliberate effort to sow confusion and undermine democratic institutions. 'A certain toolkit — a destructive, anarchic, immature, and foolish entity — is the brainchild of Rahul Gandhi,' Bhatia said, adding that Gandhi had now 'apparently become an astrologer too.'

Bhatia invoked the mythological figure of 'Bhasmasur' to characterise Gandhi, saying: 'This fake Gandhi, while we all know him to be the Bhasmasur of Indian politics, has now apparently become an astrologer, too.' He questioned whether such conduct befitted the constitutional role of a Leader of the Opposition.

India's Economic Resilience Cited as Counterpoint

Bhatia argued that over the past 85 days, India had demonstrated economic resilience even as several other nations faced instability. He presented comparative inflation figures, claiming India had managed price pressures better than several major economies, and cited global fuel price trends over the last 80 days, asserting that India had recorded a fuel price increase of just 5.5% — among the lowest globally, according to his figures.

He credited this to the government's stated resolve to shield the common citizen from global commodity shocks, noting that oil companies had absorbed financial losses to prevent price burden on households. 'The oil companies willingly accepted the financial losses; they did not wish for the common people to suffer,' he said.

Congress Accused of Sharing Misleading Content

Bhatia also accused the Congress of circulating a photograph from 2011 — purportedly showing long queues for LPG cylinders — to suggest current shortages. He alleged the image dated from the Congress-led UPA government's tenure and was deleted after the BJP flagged it. 'When we raised this issue, that tweet was deleted. And that image was a snapshot of the Congress government's tenure. The first question is: Why this deception? This is precisely what a toolkit is,' Bhatia said.

Russia Crude Oil Imports and National Interest

On the question of India's crude oil imports from Russia, Bhatia dismissed claims that New Delhi had scaled back purchases under international pressure, asserting that the Modi government acts solely on considerations of national interest. He claimed that India's crude oil imports from Russia had risen significantly under the current government compared to the UPA era.

The Broader Political Context

Bhatia also referred to social media posts by Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, questioning why the Opposition could not align with the country during a global crisis. He alleged that Gandhi's past remarks on foreign soil — including labelling the Prime Minister a 'traitor' and claiming democracy had ceased to exist in India — reflected a pattern of undermining national institutions abroad. This comes amid a wider BJP campaign framing Congress's criticism as anti-national, a charge the Congress has consistently rejected. The exchange marks one of the sharper verbal confrontations between the two parties in recent weeks.