Amit Shah accuses Rahul Gandhi of defaming India at Bharat Summit 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, 15 November 2026, sharply attacked Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over what he called “anti-India” statements made at an international conference, accusing the Congress leader of attempting to damage the country’s global image out of bitterness over repeated electoral losses. Shah was speaking at the bhoomi pujan of the NHEC Multi-State Cooperative Society and the launch of Bharat Taxi in Pune.
The Bharat Summit 2026 Controversy
Referencing the Bharat Summit 2026 held in Hyderabad, Shah alleged that the Indian National Congress (Congress) had invited Left-wing propagandists from across the world to the event. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi used the platform — despite its patriotic name — to air anti-India views before an international audience and tarnish India’s development story.
“Rahul Gandhi is venting his frustration over continuous electoral defeats by making ‘anti-India’ statements at international conferences,” Shah said. He challenged whether any political party, whether in power or in opposition, had the right to use an international summit to malign India and its Prime Minister, calling it “the question the entire country is asking.”
Shah’s Contrast: UPA Scams vs NDA Governance
Shah drew a pointed comparison between the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He recalled that the people had given the Congress ten years in power, during which, he alleged, scams worth ₹12 lakh crore took place. In contrast, he asserted that “not even the slightest allegation of corruption” had been levelled against Prime Minister Modi over 12 years of governance.
Modi Government’s Achievements Listed
The Home Minister enumerated what he described as landmark achievements of the Modi government, including advances in agriculture and industry, India’s landing near the Moon’s South Pole, the growth of the start-up ecosystem, railway revival, the expansion of airports from 76 to 150, the creation of the world’s largest Metro network, the rollout of the National Education Policy, and the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation.
Warning to Congress, Appeal to Voters
Shah issued a stark warning to Congress workers, saying that if they continued to back Gandhi’s approach of “defaming India’s development story on global platforms,” the party would remain out of power for another 30 years. He urged Gandhi to connect with voters at the grassroots in India’s villages rather than undertaking foreign tours, adding with a pointed remark that the Congress leader would “likely embark on another foreign tour instead.” Shah also appealed to citizens to deliver a “befitting reply” to such attempts in upcoming elections.
Among those present at the event were Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, and other senior leaders. This latest salvo is part of an intensifying political confrontation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress ahead of what are expected to be closely contested electoral battles.