‘Congress imports political criticism from Italy’: Bandi Sanjay slams Rahul Gandhi over remarks during Bharat Summit

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sanjay alleged that the party's political connections with Italy had extended from leadership controversies to importing criticism of India's internal affairs.

“From importing a Prime Ministerial candidate to importing political criticism, Congress’s fascination with Italy continues!” he remarked in a strongly worded social media post.

The Union Minister questioned the propriety of allowing a foreign political leader to comment on India's domestic political affairs at an event hosted by the Congress government headed by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader appeared amused by the remarks made at the summit.

Sanjay maintained that political disagreements between the Congress and BJP were legitimate in a democracy, but argued that providing international political representatives with a platform to criticise India's democratic institutions raised serious questions.

“Since when did India’s democracy become a subject for foreign politicians to lecture us on?” he asked.

The BJP leader said the Congress was free to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, question the Union government's policies and pursue its political agenda through democratic means. However, he contended that involving foreign political figures in domestic political criticism was inappropriate.

Emphasising India's sovereignty and democratic traditions, Sanjay asserted that the country's political future must be determined by its own citizens rather than outside political voices.

“140 crore Indians are capable of deciding their country’s political future. We don’t need imported lectures on democracy,” he declared.

His remarks have added to the political controversy surrounding the Bharat Summit, bringing into focus competing views on foreign participation in discussions about India's democracy and governance.