Rijiju accuses Congress of defaming Indian Army over video
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress Party of defaming India and tarnishing the Indian Army's image, calling the opposition 'more dangerous for the nation than external enemies' while sharing what he termed 'the original video' on X on October 27, 2026.
Key Takeaways
Kiren Rijiju , Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister, directly accused the Indian National Congress of defaming India and tarnishing the Indian Army's image.
Rijiju posted two videos on October 27, 2026 , presenting one as 'the original video' to counter the alleged disinformation.
He described Congress as 'more dangerous for the nation' than external enemies, invoking the phrase 'enemies hidden inside the country.' The accusation follows a pattern of BJP-Congress clashes over the military and national image that has persisted since 2014 .
Rijiju represents Arunachal Pradesh , a state with a sensitive border with China, lending his remarks a distinct geopolitical dimension.
A formal Congress rebuttal and any Ministry of Defence clarification are yet to emerge.
A sharp political accusation landed on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, when Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took to X to accuse the Indian National Congress of wilfully tarnishing the image of the Indian Army — sharing what he described as 'the original video' to counter what he called deliberate disinformation.
The charge: 'enemies hidden inside the country'
Rijiju's post was unambiguous and incendiary in equal measure. 'How far the Congress Party will go to defame India and tarnish the image of Indian Army?' he wrote, before escalating sharply: 'Congress Party is becoming more dangerous for the nation. We can fight our external enemies but it's very difficult to fight the enemies hidden inside the country.'
The minister posted two videos alongside the text — one presented as the 'original' — though the specific claims in the disputed footage remain unverified. The framing, however, was deliberate: Rijiju positioned the Congress not as a political rival but as an internal threat more insidious than foreign adversaries.
A well-worn battleground: BJP, Congress, and the Army
This is not a new front. Since 2014, BJP leaders have repeatedly accused Congress of undermining the military and the nation's security image for partisan advantage — a charge the opposition has consistently rejected as political weaponisation of the armed forces. The pattern intensifies whenever a border incident, military operation, or security controversy enters public debate.
Rijiju himself, representing Arunachal Pradesh — a state that shares a long and contested border with China — has historically been among the BJP's most vocal voices on national security and territorial integrity. His standing gives the accusation a sharper geographic and strategic edge.
What happens next
The Congress Party has not yet issued a formal rebuttal to this specific post. Any response from the party — or a clarification from the Ministry of Defence — will determine whether this remains a social-media salvo or escalates into a full parliamentary and media confrontation.
In Indian politics, accusations of 'anti-Army' conduct carry enormous weight in the court of public opinion. The BJP has used the framing effectively before; the Congress has, each time, accused it of manufacturing nationalism as a shield against accountability. That cycle, it seems, is spinning again.
The question is no longer whether the two parties will clash over this video — they already are. The question is how loudly.
Point of View
But as existentially dangerous to national security. By invoking 'enemies hidden inside the country,' he signals an intent to shift the debate from the video's content to the opposition's loyalty — a move that tends to put Congress on the defensive regardless of the underlying facts. The timing matters too: with Parliament sessions always on the horizon and border-region sensitivities perennially high, such accusations rarely stay on social media for long. Watch for this to surface as a disruption issue in Parliament or as material in the BJP's campaign rhetoric for upcoming state elections.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kiren Rijiju say about Congress and the Indian Army?
Rijiju accused Congress of deliberately defaming India and tarnishing the Indian Army's image, calling the party 'more dangerous for the nation' than external enemies and sharing what he described as 'the original video' to counter the alleged disinformation.
What video is Rijiju referring to in his post?
Rijiju posted two videos on X on October 27, 2026, presenting one as the 'original' version of disputed footage. The specific content and claims of the video have not been independently verified.
Has Congress responded to Rijiju's accusation?
As of the time of reporting, the Indian National Congress had not issued a formal rebuttal to Rijiju's specific post. A response from the party or a clarification from the Ministry of Defence is expected.
Why does BJP frequently accuse Congress of undermining the Indian Army?
Since 2014, BJP leaders have repeatedly used accusations of 'anti-Army' conduct against Congress as a political frame on national security issues, particularly during border incidents or military controversies. Congress rejects this as the political weaponisation of the armed forces.
What is Kiren Rijiju's role in the Indian government?
Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh serving as the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs in the central government.
