The BJP on Thursday accused the Congress of inviting foreign interference into India's internal matters after senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh thanked Germany for taking note of Rahul Gandhi's conviction and disqualification from parliament. The BJP asserted that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership will not tolerate any foreign intervention.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Germany's foreign ministry spokesperson had said, "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."
Germany expects that "standards of judicial independence and fundamental democratic principles" will equally apply to the proceedings against Rahul Gandhi, he had said.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh took to Twitter to thank the German foreign ministry and Richard Walker, Chief International Editor of Deutsche Welle, for "taking note of how Democracy is being compromised in India through the persecution of Rahul Gandhi".
Singh's tweet elicited sharp reaction from the BJP with several party leaders, including Union ministers, termed him and the Congress a “disgrace to nation”.
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, "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."
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.
The Congress, meanwhile, has distanced itself from Singh's tweet and said the threats to India's democracy have to be handled by ourselves.
"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 was disqualified from Lok Sabha on March 23 days after a court in Surat convicted him and sentenced him two two years imprisonment in 2019 defamation case.