New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) As the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (LoP), Rahul Gandhi launched a pointed criticism of the BJP while in Germany, reiterating accusations of 'vote chori' and asserting that India is undergoing a “full-scale assault on the institutional framework”. The Samajwadi Party (SP), a Congress ally, quickly distanced itself from these statements, asserting that such matters should be addressed domestically rather than on foreign soil.

The SP's response came after Rahul Gandhi spoke at the Hertie School in Berlin on the topic “Politics Is the Art of Listening”, where he claimed that the upcoming Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2024 would not be conducted fairly. His comments drew harsh backlash from the BJP and JD(U), which accused him of tarnishing India's reputation internationally.

In an interview with IANS, SP MP Rajeev Kumar Rai remarked that while there are well-known concerns regarding global and domestic issues, voicing them abroad is inappropriate. He stated, “As far as China is concerned, the whole world knows about it; nothing new has been said. International organisations are also reporting and commenting on India’s stance. What is needed is self-reflection and introspection. But if I had to speak, I would have discussed family matters at home.”

The BJP expressed strong disapproval of Rahul Gandhi's comments made overseas. BJP Bihar President Dilip Jaiswal commented that whenever Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, he makes statements that undermine India’s image. He stated, “Whenever Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he speaks against his own country. What could be more shameful than this?” He emphasized that in a democracy, the most significant right to speak lies within India.

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan criticized the Congress leader, questioning his behavior as the Leader of Opposition. He noted, “The people of India have never seen such an irresponsible leader in the history of politics.” He further asserted that comments made in other countries lack relevance for the Indian populace.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi recently claimed that the Congress party had formally raised concerns with the Election Commission of India but received no response. He asserted, “We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India.” He emphasized that key institutions have been compromised and warned that “democracy will struggle to sustain itself if we cannot produce.”