Leader of the Opposition in India's Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sparked a political controversy during his visit to a BMW plant in Munich with remarks criticising the state of manufacturing in India. In a video posted on Instagram, the Congress leader highlighted the decline in Indian manufacturing, emphasising its importance for economic growth. The comment drew sharp rebuttals from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused him of spreading misinformation while abroad.

In the video, Gandhi stated, "Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more—build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems and create high-quality jobs at scale." He shared the post following his tour of the BMW Welt and the BMW Plant, where he interacted with workers and observed production processes. This is not the first time Gandhi's overseas statements have ignited debates back home, often focusing on India's economic and democratic challenges.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari responded on social media platform X, dismissing Gandhi's claims as "fake news" and citing significant growth in the sector. He pointed to a 495 per cent increase in total electronics manufacturing over the last decade, a 760 per cent rise in exports, and a surge in automobile production from 2 million units in 1991 to 28 million in 2024—a 1,300 per cent jump. Bhandari also outlined future ambitions, including producing 50 million vehicles by 2030 and ranking among the top two global auto manufacturers by 2047, attributing the progress to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

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Despite the criticism, Gandhi praised Indian innovation during the visit, noting a "proud moment" in seeing TVS's 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW, on display. Such collaborations underscore ongoing ties between Indian and German automotive industries. Gandhi's history of controversial foreign remarks includes his 2023 Cambridge speech on threats to Indian democracy and a 2022 address questioning the inclusivity of the government's vision for the country.

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