Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda on Friday, 17 March, upped the ante against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over the latter's comments on India's democracy at an event in London on 5 March.
In a video address, Nadda said that the Congress party is indulging in "anti-national activities" and that Gandhi has become a part of the "anti-national toolkit."
Nadda's comments invoked a sharp reaction from Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches delivered abroad before coming to power in 2014.
Key statements by Nadda:
"India is becoming the fifth largest economy in the world and G20 meetings are currently underway but Rahul Gandhi is insulting the nation and the Parliament on foreign land," Nadda said.
Nadda said that asking for intervention on India's internal matters was a direct attack on India's sovereignty.
He further said that while rejecting the mandate for the BJP government by 130 crore Indians, Gandhi is "strengthening traitors."
"Rahul Gandhi said that democracy has been destroyed in India and asked for the intervention of Europe and the United States should intervene. What could be more shameful than this?" Nadda said.
"Why do anti-India people and the Congress speak the same language? Why does Pakistan and the Congress speak the same language?" Nadda asked.