Union Minister Kiren Rijiju launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of having ties with anti-India forces.
In an interview with the ANI news agency, Rijiju alleged that the Leader of the Opposition regularly met with Naxalites, extremists, ideologues, and individuals like George Soros, both during his foreign trips and within India.
"Rahul Gandhi has become one of the most dangerous individuals for India’s security. He associates with anti-India forces and meets with Naxalites, extremists, and people like George Soros, both abroad and at home," Rijiju said.
The minister also criticised Gandhi's behavior in Parliament, calling it "childish" and "irresponsible" for someone in his position.
"The Leader of the Opposition represents the entire opposition. Going outside the House, calling people traitors, staging theatrical protests, and insisting on reading from an unpublished book—all of this is childish behavior. We have never seen such a LoP in India's history," Rijiju added.
In response to Gandhi's allegations regarding the Epstein files, Rijiju dismissed them as baseless. "First, consider why Rahul Gandhi’s followers don't take him seriously—he speaks without the truth. If the Prime Minister met someone or if documents exist, then present them. They are dragging the Prime Minister's name into this without any basis, which only leads to despair and disappointment," Rijiju said.
Rijiju's remarks came days after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s motion in the Lok Sabha, seeking the termination of Gandhi's membership for allegedly misleading the nation with the support of figures like George Soros.
Gandhi has been taking on the government both inside and outside Parliament on various issues, including the India-US trade deal, former Army Chief M.M. Naravane’s memoir, and the alleged mentions of Prime Minister Modi and Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in the Epstein files.
On Monday, Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi of not being interested in the smooth functioning of Parliament, alleging that some NGOs had influenced him by promising that "good days" would come for his party.
The Union minister claimed that smaller parties in Parliament were pressuring Congress not to stall proceedings, as they lose their allocated time to speak when the House is disrupted.
"Not all opposition parties are aligned with Congress. Smaller parties are unable to utilize their allotted time, and they are unhappy with Rahul Gandhi. Some of them haven't even signed the motion against the Speaker," he said.