China has occupied our land, the freedom of institutions is being clamped down, Rahul said in Washington Press Club – fight is going on in India

During his US visit, Rahul Gandhi spoke at the National Press Club. Speaking to the media at the National Press Club in Washington, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that there is definitely a clampdown on the independence of institutions in India. During this he said that the opposition is uniting and we will defeat the BJP. Let us tell you that earlier at this place former PM Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had addressed on the future of Indian democracy, freedom of speech, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Screws are being tightened on the independence of institutions

During a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC, USA, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that India has very strong systems which are already in place, those systems have become weak. If the democratic system is promoted then these issues will get resolved automatically. You must have an independent set of institutions that are not under pressure and control… The Congress party is the institution that conceptualized institutions. We do not see them as our institutions, we see them as the institutions of the state. We have ensured that there is independence and neutrality in these institutions.

Press freedom is decreasing

The freedom of the press is weakening in India, which is not hidden from anyone and it is known to all. I think freedom of the press is important for a democracy and criticism should be heard. It’s not just press freedom, it’s happening everywhere. The institutional framework is also being tightened… You should ask this question to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I don’t know how you would do this but you should ask.

BJP is harming the country by polarization

Referring to his Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said that when he did a Padyatra across the country, there was anger among the people. He said that I traveled all over India from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and spoke directly to lakhs of Indian people. They didn’t seem happy to me. There were serious issues with rising unemployment and inflation. People were angry. Hitting out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, he said the BJP was promoting a polarizing vision in the country which was harming India.

China is occupying our land

Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of relations with China, saying Beijing is occupying our territory. Also took a dig at the Hindu nationalist leader on the religious polarization of the country. The truth is that China is occupying our territory. This is an accepted fact. This is absolutely unacceptable. On our territory occupied by China, I don’t know why PM thinks differently. On being asked by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, how will the Congress react to India-Russia relations? Rahul said that I will answer (to Russia) in the same way as BJP has given. We (Congress) will respond in a similar manner. Because India has such relations with Russia and it cannot be denied. Our policy will be the same.

the opposition is united

On the question of opposition in India, Rahul said that the opposition parties in the country are quite united. We are in talks with all the opposition. I think it is working very well. It is a complex discussion because there are places where we are competing with the (other) opposition (parties) as well. So, it’s a little give and take as needed. But I believe it will happen. Rahul said that there is a fight going on in India. There is a vision of polarisation, which the BJP is promoting. There is another vision which is inclusive, democratic.

Told Muslim League as a secular party

When Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was asked about the alliance of Congress with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), he said that the Muslim League is a completely secular party, there is nothing non-secular about the Muslim League.

Rahul’s visit to America

Rahul Gandhi has arrived on a three-city tour of America on 30 May. He is scheduled to end his visit on June 4 with a public meeting in New York.