New Delhi
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday strongly refuted Congress allegations of curbs on free speech, accusing the opposition of politicizing freedom of expression to push a divisive agenda. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju asserted that those claiming suppression are actually promoting separatist tendencies in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, supporting Maoists, or defending Article 370.
Rijiju criticised Congress leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi, for personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the guise of dissent. “From morning to evening, they abuse PM Modi and claim there is no freedom to speak. They want to misuse this freedom to split the nation,” he said.
The Minister condemned Gandhi’s recent remarks at Colombia’s EIA University, where he suggested India cannot lead the world. Rijiju called the statements misleading and harmful to India’s global reputation, emphasizing that the country has strong leadership and achievements under Modi.
He stressed that BJP’s response is not personal but a reaction to Gandhi’s role as Leader of Opposition (LoP). “No previous LoP, including Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, or Lal Krishna Advani, has ever made statements against India abroad. Rahul Gandhi is the first LoP to do so,” Rijiju said.
Rijiju urged that genuine free speech should focus on safeguarding constitutional rights rather than promoting separatism or maligning India internationally. He maintained that such statements distort public perception abroad and undermine the country’s image.
