Nadda attacks Rahul Gandhi for trying to tarnish country's image on foreign soil

BJP chief J P Nadda Wednesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of trying to tarnish the country's image on foreign soil with his recent remarks on Indian democracy and reminded him that it was his grandmother Indira Gandhi who had imposed the Emergency.

Nadda was addressing a rally here as part of the BJP's 'Maha Jan Sampark' programme to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Earlier, the BJP president made similar remarks at a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district.

In Hoshiarpur, he also listed the work of the Modi government, saying the kind of work done in the past nine years was never done in 70 years in the country.

Nadda said it was only his party which has ideology and which is a cadre-based party while rest of the political outfits lack any ideology.

“It is sad to say that when Modi ji is brightening the image of India worldwide, our Rahul Gandhi, 'Yuvraj of Congress', is hell bent upon trying to tarnish the image of the country,'' he said.

Nadda said Rahul Gandhi is stating in London that Indian democracy is in danger. ''Will they (Britishers) save it who ruled us (India) for 200 years? And will he save it (democracy) whose grandmother imposed the Emergency,'' he said.

''You speak about democracy whose words were rebuked by the court and even then, the public listens to you and tolerates you. What could be bigger than this in a democracy?” asked Nadda.

The BJP chief was referring to Gandhi's remarks made in London in March this year. The former Congress president had alleged that the structures of Indian democracy are under ''brutal attack''.

In Himachal's Kullu, Nadda said the person whose grandmother, Indira Gandhi, had imposed Emergency in the country and muzzled democratic voices is talking about threats to democracy during his foreign visits and meeting people who are opposed to India.

Nadda also attacked Gandhi for allegedly making fun of Indian culture as he was referring to the 'Sengol' which has now been installed in the new Parliament building.

He said 'Sengol', which is the symbol of service, unity and 'rashtradhram' was kept as a “walking stick” at Anand Bhawan when it was given to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Attacking the previous Congress-led UPA government, he said there was policy paralysis, not taking any policy decisions was their policy then.

The Congress only believed in 'atkana, latkana aur bhatkana' (stalling, delaying and misleading), he said.

After 2014 when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the country not only progressed, but work culture also changed.