Rahul fired his most vigorous salvo against Modi and Indian institutions on English soil while talking to students of Cambridge University. He said and I quote,
“Indian democracy is under pressure, is under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India and we are navigating that space. What is happening is that the institutional framework which is required for a democracy — Parliament, a free press, the judiciary — just the idea of mobilisation, just the idea of moving around … these are all getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy.”
He went on to say that he and other opposition MPs were locked in jail for protesting at Vijay Chowk against Sonia Gandhi’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate last July. He also alleged that several politicians, including him, were under surveillance by Pegasus on their phones. Apart from Cambridge University, Rahul Gandhi had some other interactions in England and he was given careful attention by British media looking for an opportunity after the action against BBC in India. Rahul also talked about the attack on minorities and the attack on the media. Not only this but Rahul claimed that media and judiciary have been captured (by Modi) in India.
Most startling statement of Rahul was when he sought Europe and US intervention in India. Perhaps the idea of seeking help from the western democracies to intervene in India to mend its democracy was aired for the first time by any Indian politician.
India is a democracy and so is England. Rahul has all the rights to say what he said. In present times, internet has made possible a global reach from anywhere in the world. Rahul has said what he had been saying in India on different occasions. The opposition has also been saying the same. It is also pointed out by Congress that Modi has also criticised opposition on the foreign soil. However, what is peculiar to Rahul is the use of extreme language which by definition exaggerates the maladies of Indian democracy. There is no denying that much is desired to make India a real democratic polity.
However in the heated polarised politics of India we can only desire that our politicians speak with nuances. In 2019, Rahul had been loudly calling Modi thief everywhere during electioneering but to no avail. Portraying, Indian democracy and its institutions including judiciary working at the behest of Modi may be counter-productive for opposition.
Opposition needs to unite with a strong positive narrative if it wants to replace BJP and Modi.
