Telangana BJP demands unconditional apology from Rahul Gandhi over remarks by foreign delegates
Hyderabad, Nov 15 (TNT) : BJP Telangana President N Ramchander Rao on Sunday demanded an unconditional apology from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for allegedly allowing foreign delegates to make remarks against Indian democracy and sovereignty at the Congress-organised Bharat Summit.
Addressing the Telangana BJP All Wings meeting at the party’s state office here, Rao alleged that bringing foreign political representatives onto Indian soil to criticise the country’s democratic institutions amounted to an insult to national sovereignty.
He warned that questioning India’s sovereignty would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Rao criticised Rahul Gandhi for his remarks abroad describing India as a “dead economy” and accused him of providing a platform to foreign delegates to interfere in the country’s internal political affairs.
Referring to a delegate’s reported slogan, “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chor”, against Indian democracy, he termed it an insult to the nation.
He defended the Centre’s decision to cancel visas of some foreign delegates at the last minute, claiming that only 115 of the 350 expected participants attended the summit.
He also questioned Congress leaders for criticising the visa cancellations, recalling that 63 Congress MPs had earlier written to the US President seeking denial of a visa to Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.
Alleging links between some summit participants and organisations funded by billionaire George Soros, Rao claimed that certain foreign groups were attempting to encourage unrest and destabilise elected governments through student movements.
Countering Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of democracy under the BJP rule since 2014, Rao accused the Congress of having a history of undermining democratic institutions and constitutional principles.
He cited the selection of Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister despite Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel reportedly enjoying greater support, the 1969 Congress split, the supersession of senior Supreme Court judges in 1973 and the imposition of Emergency in 1975 as examples of what he described as Congress’s undemocratic practices.
Rao also criticised the treatment of former Congress president Sitaram Kesri and recalled that former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had sent opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to represent India’s position on Kashmir at the United Nations.
On organisational matters, Rao said the BJP had 22 official cells at the national level and could establish additional cells at the state level according to requirements.
He urged various party wings, including those representing ex-servicemen, advocates, traders, IT professionals, teachers, doctors and cultural groups, to strengthen their outreach among different sections of society.
He said cell conveners were as important as other party office-bearers and asked them to intensify voter enrolment drives in view of the forthcoming MLC elections.
Rao also alleged that the Congress-organised Bharat Summit had failed to provide adequate representation to gig workers and claimed that most participants brought to the event were Congress workers.
He said the BJP Telangana would lodge complaints on appropriate platforms against those who participated in the summit and made what he termed anti-national remarks.
TNT TS
