Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had also met the President of the Colombian Senate during his current overseas visit, according to Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda on Saturday. Pitroda posted in X that the visit involved the creation of a friendship group in parliament with Peru as well, which would help consolidate political, diplomatic, and business relationships between both countries. Pitroda also posted a photo taken in Peru, of the traditional welcome offered to him and Gandhi in Lima and said it was a moving experience full of music, dancing, and cultural performances.
In one of his speeches at an event at the EIA University in Colombia, Rahul Gandhi commented on what he referred to as structural flaws in the Indian governance. He highlighted that although India has significant potential in some areas, including engineering and healthcare, the nation has problems that require immediate action. Specifically, Gandhi pointed to what he referred to as a constant assault on the principles of democracy, in which, according to him, diverse traditions and cultural heritage of India should be maintained and left to thrive.
The statements have attracted strong criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with leaders labelling his statements as anti-India and alleging that he has given a bad image of the country in other countries. A BJP spokesperson claimed that these words of Gandhi were offensive to the country and were symptomatic of a prototypical trait of abusing India abroad.
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla responded by defending Gandhi by saying his words were aimed at pointing out what needs to be done and not to undermine the image of India in the eyes of the world. Shukla also condemned BJP leaders who allegedly used the visits abroad to exploit the previous leaders of India, such as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, by contrasting this behaviour with that of Gandhi, who did the same through positive criticism.
The visit to the Colombian Senate President and the parliamentary mission to Peru are a part of the larger initiative by Rahul Gandhi to build international parliamentary relations.
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