Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has raised concerns about the state of democracy in India during a recent event at EIA University in Colombia. He stated that the most significant challenge facing the country is the ongoing attack on its democratic framework.

Gandhi emphasized the importance of allowing India's diverse traditions to flourish, noting, "India has strong capabilities in areas like engineering and healthcare, so I am very optimistic about the country. But at the same time, there are also flaws in the structure that India has to correct. The biggest challenge is the attack on democracy taking place in India."

He argued that democracy is essential for accommodating the country's multitude of religions, languages, and cultures. "Currently, there is a wholesale attack on this democratic system, and that is a major risk. Another big risk is the tension between different conceptions in parts of the country. With 16-17 major languages and many religions, it is crucial to allow these diverse traditions to thrive and give them the space they need," he added.

Gandhi also criticized the ideologies of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that cowardice underpins their beliefs. He referred to a statement made by the Foreign Minister regarding China, saying, "At the heart of the ideology is cowardice."

He further cited an incident from Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's writings, where Savarkar described an act of violence against a Muslim man, stating, "If five people beat up a single individual, which makes one of them happy, it is cowardice. This is RSS ideology, to beat weak people."

In response to Gandhi's remarks, the BJP accused him of degrading India on foreign soil. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia criticized Gandhi, stating, "This isn't dissent. It's a disgrace to the fake Gandhi. You lost power. Don't lose patriotism."

Gandhi's comments reflect ongoing political tensions in India, particularly regarding the state of democracy and the treatment of diverse communities within the country.