Shah's Direct Challenge to Gandhi
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, urging him to abandon international travel and instead connect with Indian villages if he wishes to regain political power. Speaking at an event in Pune, Maharashtra, Shah accused Gandhi of attempting to undermine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and India's development narrative on global stages.
"I want to give a piece of advice to Rahul Gandhi ji: you will not get power by defaming India on international platforms like this. If you want power, stop your foreign trips and start visiting the villages of India; then perhaps your turn might come someday," Shah stated, emphasizing that defaming the nation would not lead to electoral success.
Context of International Remarks
Shah's remarks followed Gandhi's address at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, an event organized with the backing of the Congress-led Telangana government on November 13 and 14. During the summit, Gandhi reportedly criticized the Modi government's handling of democratic institutions and alleged electoral manipulation, expressing confidence in defeating PM Modi.
The Home Minister alleged that the Congress party, frustrated by consecutive electoral defeats, had used the international gathering to invite left-wing ideologues from India and abroad to criticize the country. "The Congress party is venting the frustration of losing for three consecutive terms in various ways," Shah remarked, referring to Gandhi as the "prince of the Congress" for expressing what he termed "anti-India views" at the summit.
Warning to Congress Workers and Allegations of Corruption
Beyond his direct advice to Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah also issued a stern warning to Congress party workers. He cautioned that if they continued to follow Gandhi's current political approach, the party might remain out of power for another three decades. "If you keep following him in this direction, your turn will not come for 30 years," Shah asserted.
The Home Minister further intensified his criticism by accusing the Congress of widespread corruption during its decade in power at the Centre between 2004 and 2014. He alleged scams and corruption worth ₹12 lakh crore under the Congress-led government, contrasting it sharply with PM Modi's 12-year tenure, during which Shah claimed not a single allegation of corruption had been leveled.