Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will embark on a 10-day long visit to the US on May 31. His itinerary comprises a rally of non-resident Indians (NRIs) in New York’s Madison Square Garden and panel discussion and speech at Stanford University. He will also meet politicians and entrepreneurs as a part of his visit to the States.
Rahul Gandhi was in the news for his remarks at the UK’s Cambridge University. Gandhi had said at the time that Indian democracy is “under pressure and under attack”.
Rahul Gandhi said: “Everybody knows and it’s been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that space”.
Rahul Gandhi again said in his address that the framework needed for a functioning Parliament, free press and the judiciary as well as mobilization and moving around are all “getting constrained”. Commenting on the decline in manufacturing in democracies like India and the US in recent years, he said the shift of production to China led to mass inequality and anger which needed urgent attention and dialogue.
Rahul added the US became less open after 9/11 attacks whereas China “idolizes harmony” through its organisation around the Chinese Communist Party. His remarks led to a controversy back home. The ruling BJP demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi. BJP national president JP Nadda alleged that Rahul Gandhi is a “permanent part of the anti-India toolkit”.