Bogota: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, currently visiting Colombia, praised Indian automobile brands Bajaj, Hero, and TVS for their strong performance in the country. He emphasized that their success comes from “innovation” rather than “cronyism.”
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote, “Proud to see Bajaj, Hero & TVS do so well in Colombia. Shows Indian companies can win with innovation, not cronyism. Great job.”
During an event at EIA University in Colombia, he also highlighted what he described as “structural flaws” in India’s governance, stressing the importance of allowing the country’s diverse traditions to flourish. He said, “India has strong capabilities in areas like engineering and healthcare, so I am very optimistic about the country. But there are also flaws in the structure that India has to correct. The biggest challenge is the attack on democracy taking place in India.”
Gandhi’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which labelled them “anti-India” and “insulting.” Rajasthan Minister of State Jawahar Singh Bedham and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Gandhi of tarnishing India’s image abroad and targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Prasad, during a press conference, suggested that Gandhi’s comments stem from a desire for power and claimed he is undermining India’s development. He stated, “Rahul Gandhi is abroad. It would have been better if he had wished well, but he is attacking India. He says everything is baseless, claiming there is no democracy, whereas India has complete democracy. The problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he wants power.”
The BJP MP further warned that repeated criticisms of India during foreign visits could affect Gandhi’s public support, while also noting Gandhi’s previous remarks about China and India’s global standing.
