Overview

• In an interview to ANI on October 5, Kiren Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi of denigrating India abroad and said no previous Leader of Opposition had done so.
• Rijiju cited Indira Gandhi as a contrast and urged the Congress leader to be "mindful" when speaking overseas because the nation's image is at stake.
• At EIA University in Colombia, Gandhi warned of an "attack on democracy," called the 2016 demonetisation a failure, and alleged that a few businesses tied to the Prime Minister dominate the economy.
• BJP figures and allied voices condemned the Colombia remarks, branding Gandhi "anti-India" and a "disgrace" and alleging he defames India on foreign soil.
• The Congress defended the comments as plain speaking about threats to democracy, with KC Venugopal calling the ruling party's outrage a misdirected tactic.