Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, has accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization that is ideologically aligned with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of being a fundamentalist and fascist organization that has captured India’s institutions.

Speaking at the London-based think tank Chatham House, Gandhi said, “The nature of the democratic contest in India has completely changed, and the reason is that one organization called RSS.” He expressed his shock at how successful the RSS has been at capturing India’s institutions, including the press, judiciary, parliament, and election commission. He further claimed that these institutions are under threat and are controlled by the RSS in one way or the other.

Gandhi also stated that he does not believe in the “nobody can beat the BJP” narrative and expressed his belief that the Congress party has a chance to win elections and form the government again, despite the prevailing media narrative. He argued that India is a negotiation between people and that the negotiation is complex, happening through institutions such as parliament. He criticized the broken-down architecture of these institutions.

During his speech, Gandhi alleged that his phone had Pegasus spyware on it, claiming that this is a common tactic used against opposition leaders in India. He also attacked the BJP for its treatment of Dalits, tribals, and minorities, claiming that there is a serious problem with Indian democracy, which has been widely reported in foreign press articles.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Gandhi stated that he agrees with the government’s foreign policy on the issue of Ukraine, but he is against any kind of war.

The Congress leader’s comments have sparked controversy and become the latest flashpoint between Congress and the BJP. While addressing the Indian diaspora in London, Gandhi claimed that opposition leaders are not allowed to raise the issue of Chinese aggression in the Indian Parliament.