NEW DELHI, April 21 – India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday launched a scathing attack on opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of being a “traitor” over remarks made abroad about the Election Commission and the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution in the National Herald case.
At a press conference in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson and Member of Parliament Sambit Patra said Gandhi’s recent comments in the United States reflected frustration over the ongoing money-laundering probe. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against Gandhi and others in connection with alleged financial irregularities linked to the Congress-linked National Herald newspaper.
Patra accused Gandhi and his mother, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, of “looting” public funds and claimed the ED had identified ₹988 crore ($118 million) as the alleged proceeds of crime. He cited bogus advertisements, fake donations, and advance rent claims totaling tens of crores of rupees. “Rahul Gandhi is a traitor not only because he goes abroad and insults India’s institutions and democracy, but also because he has embezzled crores of the country’s property,” Patra said.
The BJP leader also questioned Gandhi’s criticism of the Election Commission, calling it an attempt to undermine a constitutional body. He challenged the Congress to clarify whether it accepted the credibility of the Commission during its victories in state elections, including in Jharkhand, and when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul’s sister, won a Lok Sabha seat from Wayanad.
“Was the EC compromised when the Congress won in Jharkhand or when Priyanka Gandhi was elected?” Patra asked. “In 2024, when the Congress won 99 seats and BJP 240, you called it a Congress victory. Was the EC wrong then?”
Patra dismissed Gandhi as “politically unfit,” accusing him of resorting to false allegations to gain relevance. “If they feel they can destroy the image of this great democracy by speaking outside the country, they are totally mistaken,” he said. The Congress party has not yet responded to the BJP’s latest accusations. The National Herald case remains one of several high-profile investigations involving opposition leaders ahead of crucial state and national elections.
