Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 25: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, alleging that the Gandhi family is a “completely compromised political family” and that Congress is a “compromised political party”.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Goyal accused Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, of repeatedly levelling “PM is compromised” allegations over the India-US Interim Trade Agreement.
“Rahul Gandhi means compromise,” Goyal said, alleging that the Congress party has a history of corruption and of compromising public and national interest under foreign influence. He further claimed that Rahul Gandhi has become the “poster boy of negative politics”.
The BJP leader also alleged that Rahul Gandhi acts as a “puppet of foreign powers, anti-India forces and anti-India organisations”, and accused him of not tolerating uncomfortable questions from the media.
Goyal expanded his criticism to former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, alleging that past Congress governments compromised national interests on multiple occasions, including in matters related to the 1971 war and the Bofors controversy.
He also claimed that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi wielded extra-constitutional authority during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging that key decisions were influenced by the National Advisory Council.
The remarks come amid an escalating political confrontation between the BJP and Congress over the “shirtless protest” staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit. IYC chief Uday Bhanu Chib was arrested in connection with the protest and was later granted four days’ police custody by a Delhi court.
Earlier, BJP president Nitin Nabin also criticised the Nehru-Gandhi family, alleging that its politics prioritised personal and foreign interests over national welfare.