Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has renewed his attack on the BJP-led Union government, alleging a “systematic takeover” of India’s institutional framework and calling it a direct assault on democracy. Speaking at an event at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, Gandhi claimed that key institutions and investigating agencies were being used selectively to target political opponents while sparing the ruling party.
Gandhi alleged that agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been turned into political tools. He claimed that there were “virtually no cases against the BJP,” while most investigations were directed at Opposition leaders. He further alleged a quid pro quo arrangement in which sections of the business community financially back the BJP, while those perceived as supporting the Congress face pressure and intimidation.
Responding to what he described as institutional capture, Gandhi said the Congress would build a “structure of resistance” to counter the BJP’s dominance. He stressed that the struggle was not just against the BJP as a political party, but against its control over democratic institutions. According to him, the sharp disparity in resources between the ruling party and the Opposition reflected the misuse of state power to consolidate political control.
On the INDIA bloc, Gandhi acknowledged that alliance partners were competing against each other in certain state and local elections, calling them “tactical contests.” However, he said the alliance remained united in opposing the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Gandhi argued that the BJP’s vision threatened the Constitution and India’s pluralism, adding that millions of Indians rejected the idea of the country being run by the will of one individual. He framed the current political moment as a clash between two competing visions of India—one centralised and authoritarian, the other rooted in dialogue, diversity and federalism.
