Rahul Gandhi Faces Fresh BJP Offensive as Party Defends Nitin Nabin's Controversial Comment

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday intensified its attack on the Congress, backing party President Nitin Nabin's remarks that accused the opposition of having a "foreign mindset" and alleging that it works at the behest of foreign powers to weaken and divide India. The latest political exchange comes ahead of key electoral contests, with the BJP sharpening its criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the party's leadership over issues of nationalism and governance. The Congress has not immediately responded to the latest allegations.

The controversy stems from Nabin's speech at a public meeting in Hyderabad on Sunday, where he claimed that the Congress leadership's mindset was "Italian rather than Indian." Referring to the party's leadership, Nabin argued that a government driven by such thinking would never be given the opportunity to govern the country. His remarks are widely seen as an indirect reference to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was born in Italy before acquiring Indian citizenship, a subject the BJP has repeatedly raised in its political campaigns over the years.

Echoing Nabin's comments, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla launched a fresh attack on the Congress, alleging that the party no longer deserved to be called the "Indian National Congress." Instead, he described it as the "Italian National Congress" and the "Islamabad National Congress," accusing it of acting against India's interests. In a video statement, Poonawalla said, "Nitin Nabin ji is absolutely right. The Congress family's bodies are here, but their mindset is abroad. With that foreign mindset, they constantly divide and undermine India at the behest of foreign powers."

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Poonawalla further alleged that the Congress consistently sought to tarnish India's image internationally and questioned the party's commitment to national interests. The BJP has frequently accused Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders of making statements overseas that, according to the ruling party, are used by India's critics to target the country. Similar allegations have surfaced repeatedly in recent years, particularly after Rahul Gandhi's speeches during visits to Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States, where he criticised the Narendra Modi government on issues including democracy, institutions and governance.

The Congress has consistently rejected such accusations, maintaining that raising concerns about democratic institutions and government policies is part of legitimate political discourse and should not be equated with being anti-national. The party has also accused the BJP of diverting attention from governance issues by resorting to personal attacks and rhetoric centred on nationalism. Political exchanges over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin have persisted for decades, although she has remained an Indian citizen since the 1980s and has previously held the position of Congress president for an extended period.

The BJP's latest offensive underscores its continuing strategy of portraying the Congress as disconnected from national interests while reinforcing its own nationalist narrative. As political activity gathers pace ahead of upcoming elections, both parties are expected to continue trading sharp accusations over leadership, governance and patriotism. The remarks by Nabin and Poonawalla add another chapter to the long-running war of words between the BJP and the Congress, with Rahul Gandhi once again emerging as a central target of the ruling party's campaign.

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