Does Rahul Gandhi Trust China and Pakistan More Than India?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Giriraj Singh strongly criticizes Rahul Gandhi for trusting foreign sources.
- The controversy revolves around the alleged misreporting of deaths during the Maha Kumbh stampede.
- Gandhi cites a BBC report claiming higher death tolls than officially acknowledged.
- Political leaders are divided, with accusations of politicization of sensitive issues.
- Transparency and accountability are crucial in maintaining public trust.
New Delhi, June 15 (NationPress) Union Minister Giriraj Singh has launched a fierce critique against the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, following Gandhi's comments regarding the Uttar Pradesh government's alleged misreporting of casualties during the Maha Kumbh stampede. Singh accused Gandhi of consistently relying on foreign narratives that, in his view, tarnish India’s reputation.
“Rahul Gandhi places his trust in the Chinese embassy, the Pakistani embassy, and BBC reports, yet he shows distrust towards his own nation. This reflects the true credibility of Rahul Gandhi,” Singh remarked in response to Gandhi’s recent social media statements. “Whether it's Operation Sindoor or any BBC report, he consistently communicates in ways that contradict India's interests. It appears he has pledged to speak only against the nation,” Singh continued.
The controversy ignited after Rahul Gandhi, earlier on Wednesday, referenced a BBC report, alleging that the actual death toll from the stampedes during the Maha Kumbh was concealed by the Uttar Pradesh government.
In a post on X, Gandhi stated, “The BBC report reveals that the death figures from the Kumbh Mela stampede were obscured. Similar to the COVID situation, the bodies of the less fortunate were erased from the statistics. As with every major railway disaster, the truth is buried.”
He further criticized the ruling BJP, saying, “This is the BJP model -- if the poor are not counted, then there is also no accountability!”
Gandhi’s remarks elicited strong reactions from BJP leaders, many of whom accused him of politicizing sensitive issues and preferring foreign media over domestic entities.
At the same time, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed Gandhi’s concerns, referring to the same BBC report to charge the Uttar Pradesh government with hiding the true death toll from the stampede.
Without naming anyone specifically, Yadav indicated that those who “manipulate or misrepresent” data cannot be trusted by the public.
The report he mentioned claimed that 82 individuals lost their lives in the incident, significantly exceeding the official count of 37 released by the state.