NEW DELHI: The BJP on Saturday accused the Congress of aligning with what it described as “anti-India” forces, citing recent comments made by Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda regarding the party’s association with the Global Progressive Alliance, making yet another attack on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after his Germany visit.
Addressing the media, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi referred to Pitroda’s remarks about Rahul Gandhi’s participation in a Global Progressive Alliance conference during his recent visit to Germany. Describing Pitroda as “long-time adviser to Rahul Gandhi and a key influence on his political thinking” who also advised his late father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Trivedi said Pitroda had “unintentionally revealed” Congress’s true ideological position.
According to the BJP leader, Pitroda disclosed that Rahul Gandhi was part of the alliance’s presidium, while he himself was a member. Alleging that the GPA promotes narratives harmful to India’s interests, Trivedi questioned whether the Congress had become part of what he termed a larger “anti-India global conspiracy,” asking it to clarify its position and explain its association with international groups “critical of India”.
“After Sam Pitroda’s statement, I want to ask the Congress party: Have they become a member of the anti-India global conspiracy? Have they become a member of the nefarious nexus of anti-India global forces?” he added.
Pitroda made the remarks during an interview while explaining Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the winter session of Parliament. He said Gandhi had prior commitments to attend the Progressive Alliance conference, which had been scheduled months in advance.
The GPA is described as an international network of progressive, social democratic, socialist, and labour-oriented political parties and organisations from around the world.
Agencies