Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has come under heavy fire from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and netizens alike for his controversial remarks made during his visit to the United States. Leading the criticism, Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the Gandhi scion's comments as “shameful” and “anti-national,” demanding that he apologise for allegedly defaming India on foreign soil.

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भारत में जहर फैलाकर विदेशों में अपने मुंह मियां मिट्ठू बनता बालक बुद्धि! pic.twitter.com/NykZZzG5A7
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— BJP (@BJP4India) September 11, 2024

Union Minister Piyush Goyal accused Gandhi of running a "well-thought-out agenda" to malign India’s image internationally. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Goyal described Gandhi’s remarks as a deliberate attempt by the Congress party to defame the country in frustration over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successful leadership. He stressed that Gandhi's statements on foreign soil were an attack not just on Modi but on India itself.

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"Can anybody in his right mind justify or endorse the deplorable statements (of Mr Gandhi). The absolutely shameful manner in which India and every Indian is being defamed on foreign soil by a senior leader of the Congress Mr Rahul Gandhi," Goyal said.

"I think it is by deliberate choice that Shri Rahul Gandhi is making these statements because the Congress party in its desire to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this third term ...They are so frustrated that in their frustration they can not differentiate between a political adversary and the nation," the commerce minister said.

He condemned the Congress leader's actions as "shameful," criticizing the way he meets with anti-national individuals and those connected to terrorists, while also casting doubts on entire communities.

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"Mr Rahul Gandhi should apologise not only to Bharat, but he should apologise to every single citizen of India who has felt hurt," he added.

Rahul Gandhi has become a fake-news and propaganda machine working against India and all Indians pic.twitter.com/10dkm2gSWR
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 11, 2024

At a press conference on Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, Gandhi expressed support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies on Pakistan but criticised his approach to handling China.

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Gandhi is currently on a four-day visit to the United States, which began on Saturday in Dallas.

Earlier, Gandhi met with a group of lawmakers at the US Capitol. The Congress party has downplayed the criticism surrounding Gandhi's meeting with Omar, who is known for her controversial views on India.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi's meeting with anti-India US lawmaker Ilan Omar sparks row; BJP questions 'desh virodh'

Gandhi also claimed that democracy in India had been weakened over the past decade but is now making a strong comeback.

During his four-day tour of the US, Gandhi also criticised PM Modi's approach toward China, alleging that Chinese troops had occupied Indian territory in Ladakh.

"Well, if you call having Chinese troops in 4,000 square kilometres of our territory handling something well, then maybe. We've got Chinese troops occupying land the size of Delhi in Ladakh. I think that's a disaster,” Gandhi remarked at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

लोकसभा में नेता प्रतिपक्ष श्री राहुल गांधी अपने विदेश दौरे के दौरान जिस तरह की भ्रामक, निराधार और तथ्यहीन बातें कर रहे हैं, वह बेहद शर्मनाक और भारत की गरिमा को ठेस पहुँचाने वाली हैं। उन्होंने कहा है कि भारत में सिख समाज को गुरद्वारों में पगड़ी पहनने की इजाज़त नहीं है, उन्हें…
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 11, 2024

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to X (formerly Twitter) to dismiss Gandhi's remarks about the India-China border dispute as "misleading and baseless." Singh condemned the Congress leader for hurting the dignity of India, stating that Gandhi's comments on the Sikh community were "far from the truth."

"The kind of claims he has made on the soil of America regarding the India-China border dispute are also misleading and beyond facts,” the minister said and asked Gandhi to refrain from making “such false statements”. “It seems that while running the shop of love, Rahulji has opened a shop of lies,” he added.

In a scathing response, Rajnath Singh also slammed Gandhi for his remarks about the Sikh community, accusing him of spreading misinformation. Singh pointed out that Gandhi falsely claimed that Sikhs in India were not allowed to wear turbans in gurdwaras, calling it "completely baseless."

Singh emphasized that the entire nation acknowledges and respects the “significant role” the Sikh community has played in safeguarding India's culture. He added that it is inappropriate for an opposition leader to make such “false statements” about them.

Singh also refuted Gandhi’s assertions regarding reservations, which the Congress leader had suggested might be abolished under Modi's leadership. Singh reiterated that the BJP is committed to preserving and strengthening reservations for Dalits, backward classes, and tribals, calling Gandhi's claims “completely false.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah added his voice to the growing chorus of BJP leaders calling out Gandhi. Criticising Gandhi's stance on reservations, Shah asserted that as long as the BJP is in power, no one can abolish the reservation system or threaten national security.

Standing with forces that conspire to divide the country and making anti-national statements have become a habit for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Whether it is supporting the JKNC's anti-national and anti-reservation agenda in J&K or making anti-India statements on…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 11, 2024

In a post on X, Shah said, "Standing with forces that conspire to divide the country and making anti-national statements have become a habit for Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Whether it is supporting the JKNC's anti-national and anti-reservation agenda in J&K or making anti-India statements on foreign platforms, Rahul Gandhi has always threatened the nation's security and hurt sentiments."

"Rahul Gandhi's statement lays bare the Congress's politics of causing rifts on the lines of regionalism, religion, and linguistic differences. By speaking about abolishing reservations in the country, Rahul Gandhi has once again brought the Congress's anti-reservation face to the forefront. The thoughts that were in his mind eventually found their way out as words. I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that as long as the BJP is there, neither can anyone abolish reservations nor can anyone mess with the nation's security," the home minister added.

Also read: Khalistani terrorist Pannun endorses Rahul Gandhi's 'existential threat to Sikhs in India' remark amid row

Rahul Gandhi's array of statements in the US, along with his claim that democracy in India had been “broken” for the past 10 years, sparked outrage from BJP leaders and Indian netizens, who accused him of tarnishing the country's reputation abroad.

The Congress leader's remarks have also ignited widespread anger, particularly from Sikh groups. In New Delhi, members of the BJP's Sikh cell staged protests near 10 Janpath, Rahul Gandhi’s residence, demanding an apology for his comments about the Sikh community. Protesters accused Gandhi of “humiliating” Sikhs and held the Congress responsible for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

सिखों को लेकर दिए गए बयान पर राहुल गांधी के घर के बाहर सिखों ने किया प्रदर्शन,

राहुल गांधी मुर्दाबाद के नारे लगे! 👏👏@RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/PjbU3cGccs
— सनातनी हिन्दू राकेश 100% Follow Back (@modified_hindu6) September 11, 2024

Netizens also took to social media platforms, expressing their disapproval of Gandhi’s speeches during his US visit. Many accused him of being “anti-national” and creating a “dangerous narrative” by addressing sensitive internal issues abroad.

Here's a look at some of the reactions by users on X:

If you're a pathological liar like #RahulGandhi, you say whatever lies give you a much-craved spotlight.

Apparently, by saying Indian women are being made housewives under the BJP rule, he believes people of India will forget the Hon'ble President, FM, women soldiers, countless… pic.twitter.com/5HIxW0GbwM
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) September 11, 2024

Rahul Gandhi should tender unconditional apology for the remarks made against the country and reservations at international stage. pic.twitter.com/UuDQd7HJfa
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) September 11, 2024

The anti-national mentality and the pathological lying ability of the Congress party is today out in the public!

While Congress has a history of sowing the seeds of rifts and division in the country, the latest disregard & disrespect for the nation shows that the party is…
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) September 11, 2024

Sikhs of Bharat are deeply furious at Rahul Gandhi. The protest outside 10 Janpath today reflected the immense resentment within the Sikh community against Rahul Gandhi's baseless and divisive remarks made on foreign soil.

His false statements are not only inflammatory but also… pic.twitter.com/yF2A84LqCO
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) September 11, 2024

Perfect reply, if you have so many problems with our country and it's better that you leave.

Rahul Gandhi... Quit India! https://t.co/8snJGy2hYS
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) September 11, 2024

Rahul Gandhi, while interacting with students and faculty at Georgetown University in Washington DC, USA, made it clear that he would eventually ‘scrap reservations’.

This shows that Rahul Gandhi’s talk of caste census and empowering the backwards and marginalised is just a… pic.twitter.com/5XMfOaBrTe
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 11, 2024

This is unprecedented. Sikhs For Justice, the banned Khalistan terror group, has backed Rahul Gandhi’s mis-informed comments on the Sikh community, in the US.

After Ilhan Omar, this is yet another instance of Congress in cahoots with anti-India forces.

Congress and Rahul Gandhi… pic.twitter.com/vOQr0dgn6z
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 11, 2024

India’s Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar in the USA, a Pakistan sponsored anti-India voice, a radical Islamist and an advocate of independent Kashmir.

Even Pakistani leaders would be more circumspect about being seen with such rabid elements.

Congress is now… pic.twitter.com/kEkNLrXvCV
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 11, 2024

After spewing venom against Sikhs & running down India on foreign soil now Rahul Gandhi meets & engages with anti India Ilhan Omar - 1) Ilhan had introduced anti India resolutions in US Congress 2) She has been against abrogation of Art 370 3) She violated India’s sovereignty &… pic.twitter.com/3YndaPSLa4
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 11, 2024

𝗥𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗶 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗶𝘁!

His comment, "Devta doesn't mean God; it's the idea that you destroy yourself,"made during his recent interview in US, is an attempt to distort and misrepresent Hindu beliefs for overseas… pic.twitter.com/1rpKKlS5b9
— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) September 11, 2024

#WATCH | Delhi | BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "Whenever Rahul Gandhi goes abroad he always insults the country and supports anti-India elements. Sikhs for Justice has supported his statement. Rahul Gandhi is a leader of opposition- what does he s… pic.twitter.com/yXCky8ukkB
— Naren (@kotaknaren) September 11, 2024

Delhi: BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh says, "...Rahul Gandhi is not in his right mind. He says he didn’t want to say it, but if you didn’t, how did the country understand? The truth is, your real feelings came out. The way you hugged the Prime Minister in Parliament and then made… pic.twitter.com/hurbempNuq
— IANS (@ians_india) September 11, 2024

Bengaluru, Karnataka: Former BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi reacts to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's statements on reservation pic.twitter.com/HovXee7fyx
— IANS (@ians_india) September 11, 2024

#WATCH | BJP leader RP Singh and other Sikh leaders detained by Delhi Police.

BJP leader RP Singh says "Rahul Gandhi should apologise. He used the foreign land to defame India and gave a statement about Sikhs that Sikhs are not allowed to wear turban an… pic.twitter.com/Olu7VjblzD
— Naren (@kotaknaren) September 11, 2024

Visionless v/s Visionary Leader. pic.twitter.com/CTZ15RAOBT
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) September 11, 2024

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