Even as senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh's tweet thanking the German foreign ministry for “taking note of” the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi has elicited sharp reactions from the BJP, the grand old party appears to have distanced itself from the controversy as it said any threat to India's democracy has to be handled internally.
"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," party leader Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.
Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in Lok Sabha, was disqualified as an MP on March 23, two days after a court in Gujarat's Surat convicted him and sentenced him to two years imprisonment in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification had stirred up a political storm with several opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, joining hands to protest against the Narendra Modi government.
On Wednesday, a German foreign ministry spokesperson had said at a press briefing, "We have taken note of the verdict of first instance against Indian opposition politician Rahul Gandhi as well as the suspension of his parliamentary mandate."
She said Germany expected that the standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles would equally apply to the proceedings against Rahul Gandhi.
Earlier this week, a US state department official had said the United States is watching the court case of Rahul Gandhi. The official had observed that the US continues to engage with India on the shared commitment towards democratic principles and the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression.
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Digvijay Singh took to Twitter on Thursday to thank the German foreign ministry and journalist Richard Walker for "taking note of how Democracy is being compromised in India through the persecution of Rahul Gandhi". Walker is the Chief International Editor of Deutsche Welle which aired the German diplomat's comments.
Singh's tweet invited flak from the BJP with senior party leaders including Union ministers accusing the Congress of inviting foreign interference into India's internal matters. The ruling party also asserted that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership will not tolerate any foreign intervention.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "Thank you Rahul Gandhi for inviting foreign powers for interference into India's internal matters." He asserted that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership will not tolerate any foreign intervention.
Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur said the Congress and Rahul Gandhi do not believe in fighting the democratic, political and legal battle within country. "Disgrace to nation, @INCIndia & @RahulGandhi don't believe to fight India's democratic, political and legal battle within country, hence, invite foreign powers to interfere in our internal matter. But New India headed by @narendramodi Ji will not tolerate any foreign intervention," he tweeted.
Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman tweeted: "Apparent that @INCIndia wants foreign interference in our affairs. Sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Communist Party of China with opaque contents. During interactions abroad, plead for help to change government. Thank them when help forthcoming. Any more proof needed?"
"Shameful that Congress continues to lean on foreign agencies and seek their intervention in India's internal affairs. Rahul Gandhi had recently sought Europe and US intervention and now it is Digvijay Singh. But Law is the Law Unless somebody thinks Law is not the Law for them," tweeted BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya.
Earlier, too, referring to Rahul Gandhi's speeches in London, the BJP had accused the Congress of seeking foreign intervention in India's internal affairs. The Congress, however, had rubbished the claims challenging the BJP to produce evidence of Rahul Gandhi requesting such an intervention.