Rahul Gandhi in Washington: 'Indian democracy attacked for a decade, now fighting back'

PTC Web Desk: In a sharp critique of India's political landscape, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Indian democracy had been severely weakened over the past decade but was now regaining strength. Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, the Congress leader conveyed his concerns about the democratic framework and his belief in its revival.

"I can say that Indian democracy was broken over the last 10 years, but now it's fighting back," said Rahul Gandhi, as he reflected on the state of governance and democratic integrity in India. He highlighted the political turbulence in Maharashtra, citing the Congress' experience of losing the state's government in a questionable manner. According to him, the shift in power, where party legislators switched allegiance to the BJP, was a direct manifestation of the attacks on India's democracy.

"Indian democracy has been under severe attack, it has been very badly weakened. But now, it’s beginning to resist. I’m confident it will emerge stronger," Rahul Gandhi said.

While discussing the recent election results, Rahul said the performance of opposition parties gave him hope. Despite facing significant challenges, including an uneven playing field, the opposition had fought valiantly. He acknowledged that while electoral setbacks had occurred, there was still a determined effort to challenge the ruling BJP. "The election result has offered hope for the future of democracy in India," he remarked.

The Congress leader also shed light on the financial challenges his party faced, sharing a striking anecdote about the Congress Party’s bank accounts being frozen during the election. "We fought an election with frozen bank accounts. I don't know of any other democracy where such things happen. Maybe in Syria or Iraq. But we literally sat in meetings where our treasurer told us, 'We have no money,'" said Rahul Gandhi.

He said despite these obstacles, the Congress continued its campaign. However, he added that even resilient voters require a robust political structure to function effectively, which he claimed was lacking in the current environment. He highlighted the absence of a conducive system for meaningful political engagement and urged for a restoration of democratic norms.

Rahul Gandhi also pointed to the legal troubles he faces, stating that he is the only individual in Indian history to receive a prison sentence for defamation. "I have over 20 cases against me. We have a chief minister in jail. The voter is resilient, yes. But the architecture needed for that voter to engage with democracy is being dismantled," he explained.

In one of his more striking comments, Rahul Gandhi referenced PM Modi's claims of a divine connection, describing it as a sign of political manipulation. "Here’s a Prime Minister of a modern nation in the 21st century claiming to speak to God, positioning himself as different from the rest of the people. That, for us, was game over. We knew we had defeated him in that moment."

He went on to describe the symbolic gesture Modi made when entering the Lok Sabha after the recent election victory. "He lifted the Constitution of India to his forehead. It was a paradox—on one hand, he's attacking the very democratic structure that the Constitution protects, and on the other hand, he was forced to show reverence to it."