BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of treason over Bharat Summit

BJP Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao on Sunday demanded that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi tender an “unconditional apology” to the people of the country for allegedly bringing “anti-national forces” to India through the Bharat Summit and “insulting India’s democracy”.

“Mr. Gandhi had earlier gone abroad and described India as a ‘dead economy’. Now, he has invited foreigners to speak against the country in India itself. It is an act of treason,” alleged Mr. Rao and warned that the BJP would lodge complaints on appropriate platforms against those who participated in the event and had made “anti-national remarks”.

Addressing party workers at the BJP State office, Mr. Rao objected to the participation of foreign representatives in discussions on India’s internal political affairs. Such interventions would not be permitted in other countries and accused the Congress leader of providing a platform for criticism of India on its own soil.

The BJP leader alleged that representatives of the Progressive Alliance and Progressive International, organisations funded by investor-philanthropist George Soros through the Open Society Foundations, were invited to the summit, and these groups have been working against ‘nationalist’ governments around the world.

He also defended the Centre’s decision to cancel visas of some foreign participants, including Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng, saying it was a “right decision”. Mr. Rao further recalled that Congress MPs had previously written to the US President urging that a visa not be granted to Narendra Modi during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar has charged that the Bharat Summit is an “utter flop” and demanded the State Government account for the ₹100 crore spent for the event. Mr. Sanjay Kumar has alleged that Mr. Gandhi did not bother to talk to any of the ministers or senior party members and suggested that the money spent for the summit could have been used for the welfare of gig workers.