India’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats to democracy: Cong

On Mar 30, 2023

Congress | India's democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats to democracy: Cong — file photo

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) – The Congress, which has been accusing the BJP-led government at Centre of “destroying democracy’’, on Thursday categorically said that the party “believes that the country’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats posed by the ruling dispensation.”

The statement of the Congress comes hours after Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju accused the former party president Rahul Gandhi of inviting foreign powers to interference into the country’s internal matters, in an apparent reference to Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s remarks on Gandhi’s conviction by a court.

Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh in a tweet wrote, “Congress firmly believes that India’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats posed to our democracy by Mr Modi’s assault on our institutions and his politics of vendetta, intimidation, threats and harassment. Congress and Opposition parties will take him on fearlessly.”

Earlier in the day, Rijiju referring to senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s statement expressing gratitude to Germany’s Foreign Ministry for its statement, in a tweet wrote, “Thank you Rahul Gandhi for inviting foreign powers for interference into India’s internal matters. Remember, Indian Judiciary can’t be influenced by foreign interference. India won’t tolerate ‘foreign influence’ anymore because our Prime Minister is Narendra Modi ji.”

“Thank you Germany Foreign Affairs Ministry and Richard Walker for taking note of how the ‘democracy’ is being compromised in India through persecution of Rahul Gandhi,” Singh wrote in a tweet.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in reference to the former Congress president’s case, said “We have taken note of the first instance against Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi as well as the suspension of his parliamentary mandate. To our knowledge Mr Gandhi is in a position to appeal the verdict, it will then become clear whether the verdict will stand and whether the suspension of his mandate has any basis. We expect that the standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles will equally apply to the proceedings against Rahul Gandhi.”