Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday (October 2) strongly criticized the Narendra Modi government, calling the attack on democracy the biggest threat facing India today. Speaking at EIA University, Gandhi highlighted the importance of India’s democratic system in accommodating the country’s diverse religions, languages, and traditions.

“India has many religions, traditions, and languages. A democratic system provides a place for everyone. But right now, the democratic system is under attack from all sides,” Gandhi said.

Comparing India with China, the Congress MP emphasized India’s decentralized democratic structure. “China is very centralized and uniform. India is decentralized and has multiple languages, cultures, traditions, and religions. India has a much more complex system,” he noted.

Gandhi further added, “Allowing these different traditions to thrive, giving them space to express themselves, is very important for India. We cannot do what China does: suppress people and run an authoritarian system. Our design will not accept that.”

The BJP strongly condemned Gandhi’s remarks. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said on X, “Rahul Gandhi ATTACKS Indian Democracy from foreign soil yet again! Rahul Gandhi is Anti Constitution. Rahul Gandhi is against Indian democracy. Rahul Gandhi is dangerous for Indian democracy!”

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut called Gandhi a “disgrace,” adding, “He doesn’t pitch against the government but against the country. He brings shame to the nation.”

Industrialist Shehzad Poonawalla described Gandhi as a “Leader of Propaganda,” criticizing his repeated attacks on India from abroad.

This is not the first time Gandhi has targeted the Modi government from foreign soil. In 2024, he made similar remarks at Cambridge University, and in 2022 in London, he alleged that federal agencies were being misused and that the “soul of India is under attack.”