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In a sharp rebuke, BJP MP Anurag Thakur has characterized Rahul Gandhi as the “Leader of Propaganda or Leader of opposing Bharat,” following controversial remarks made by the Congress leader about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament on Tuesday, Thakur criticized Gandhi’s recent assertion that Prime Minister Modi is “100 per cent under the control” of President Trump. “They demean the country,” Thakur said, expressing frustration with what he perceives as the Opposition’s negative portrayal of India on the international stage.
The BJP parliamentarian further accused the Congress party of demonstrating a lack of seriousness regarding ongoing conflicts in West Asia. He noted that despite Prime Minister Modi delivering what he called “a very serious statement” in the Lok Sabha about the current geopolitical situation, Opposition leaders were conspicuously absent from the House.
“If they were serious, they would have been present during the statement,” Thakur remarked. “Only tweeting and giving statements from outside shows that the Congress, which was in power for 60 years, can only criticize.”
This exchange comes amid growing tensions between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties over India’s diplomatic stance on various international conflicts. Thakur specifically referenced past military operations, including surgical strikes on Pakistan and Operation Sindoor, claiming the Congress party’s responses to these actions revealed their true allegiances.
“This clearly shows their mindset. They believe in Pakistan’s ideology not India’s,” he asserted, escalating the rhetoric in what has become an increasingly contentious political environment.
Beyond the war of words over foreign policy, Thakur, who represents Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur constituency, also expressed disappointment with his home state’s recent fiscal decisions. He appealed for the rollback of a newly imposed Rs 5 cess on petrol and diesel approved by the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh Assembly.
“I appeal that this Rs 5 cess on petrol and diesel should be rolled back so that the people of Himachal are not burdened,” Thakur stated, accusing the Congress of implementing what he termed a ‘khatakhat’ model in the state.
The MP painted a dire picture of Himachal Pradesh’s economic situation, claiming the state is now struggling with mounting debt. “A small state like Himachal Pradesh is under a debt of more than Rs 1 lakh 4 thousand crore. The state Congress government has taken around Rs 46 thousand crore as debt in the last three years,” Thakur alleged.
He further criticized the Congress government for increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel by Rs 10.40 since coming to power, in addition to the newly implemented cess. These financial burdens, according to Thakur, represent broken promises by the Congress party to the people of Himachal Pradesh.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions between India’s two largest parties ahead of several upcoming state elections. The BJP has consistently portrayed the Congress as undermining national interests, while the Opposition has questioned the government’s handling of foreign relations and domestic economic policies.
Political analysts note that such heated rhetoric is likely to intensify as both parties position themselves for electoral battles in key states, with each side attempting to frame the other as working against the interests of ordinary citizens.
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5 Comments
This political squabble doesn’t seem very constructive. I hope the leaders can find a way to work together in the best interests of the Indian people, rather than simply trying to score points against each other.
Interesting political dynamics playing out in India. It’s concerning when elected officials start labeling each other as ‘propagandists’ rather than focusing on substantive policy debates. I wonder if there’s more nuance to the disagreements between BJP and Congress leaders that isn’t being captured in these headlines.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific foreign policy positions and statements being criticized here. Geopolitics can be complex, and it’s important for all sides to engage constructively, even if they have differences.
Without knowing the full context, it’s hard to assess the validity of the accusations on either side. I’d encourage looking to authoritative and non-partisan sources to get a clearer picture of what’s really going on.
This seems like a partisan back-and-forth that does little to inform the public or address the real issues facing India. I wish politicians would spend more time proposing solutions rather than trading personal attacks.