Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Wednesday launched a sharp political attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, accusing them of lacking the courage to withstand pressure from powerful foreign governments and global interests. Addressing party workers and supporters, the Congress leader framed the criticism as a broader contest over political will and national self-respect, drawing a contrast between what he described as the ruling party’s approach and the historical posture of the Congress.Gandhi argued that leadership is tested not in moments of comfort but when confronted by economic, diplomatic or strategic pressure from stronger nations. He claimed that the BJP and the RSS tend to yield quickly in such situations, asserting that such behaviour undermines the country’s ability to negotiate from a position of confidence on the global stage. According to him, standing firm against external influence requires moral courage and political clarity, qualities he said were embedded in the Congress tradition.
Invoking former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress had repeatedly demonstrated the ability to take difficult decisions despite international opposition. He referred to periods when global power alignments were less forgiving and yet leadership choices were made with an emphasis on sovereignty and long-term national interest. The reference was intended to underscore a narrative that the party, despite its electoral setbacks, sees itself as historically anchored in resistance to coercion rather than accommodation.
He extended the argument by recalling figures central to the freedom movement and the early years of the republic. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, he said, never bowed to pressure, whether from colonial authority or from global power blocs shaping the post-war order. In his telling, their political legacy was built on a willingness to absorb hardship while defending principles, a contrast he suggested with what he described as transactional politics driven by fear of economic or diplomatic backlash.
The remarks come at a time when foreign policy, trade negotiations and strategic partnerships are increasingly prominent in domestic political debate. Questions around trade barriers, defence procurement, technology access and geopolitical alignments have moved from specialist circles into public discourse. Opposition leaders have sought to position these issues as tests of autonomy, while the government has defended its record as pragmatic engagement in a complex world.
Rahul Gandhi’s critique also reflects an attempt by the Congress to reframe its national narrative ahead of forthcoming political contests. By invoking historical figures and past leadership, he is seeking to reconnect the party’s contemporary messaging with its formative identity. Senior Congress leaders have echoed similar themes, arguing that national confidence flows from institutional strength and the willingness to dissent, rather than from overt displays of power.
The BJP has consistently rejected such accusations, maintaining that its foreign policy has elevated the country’s global standing and expanded its influence. Government representatives have pointed to expanded diplomatic engagement, defence cooperation with multiple partners and a more assertive posture in multilateral forums as evidence of resolve rather than capitulation. They argue that flexibility in negotiations should not be mistaken for weakness and that national interest is best served through calibrated diplomacy.
Political analysts note that Rahul Gandhi’s comments are aimed as much at domestic audiences as at shaping the foreign policy debate. By portraying the ruling party as susceptible to pressure, the Congress is attempting to question its ideological consistency and appeal to voters who value independence in decision-making. The strategy also seeks to mobilise party workers by invoking a lineage of defiance and sacrifice associated with the freedom struggle and the early decades of governance.