Pune: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of the BJP-led government and the Election Commission of India at the Bharat Summit in Hyderabad.
Rahul Gandhi was defaming India, its democratic institutions and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development record at international conferences, Shah said, adding that "defaming India at international platforms will not help him come to power".
To gain power, Gandhi must stop travelling abroad and start visiting villages across the country, Shah said.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the National Heavy Engineering Cooperative revival initiative in Pune, Shah said the Congress was expressing its frustration over repeated electoral defeats by targeting the country and its leadership at international platforms.
Taking a swipe at the Bharat Summit, organised in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14 by the Congress-led Telangana government, Shah said promoters of left-wing ideology from across the country and abroad had been invited to the event.
"The Congress' prince (referring to Gandhi) also attended this conference named 'Bharat Summit', where he defamed India at the international level by putting forth anti-Indian thoughts. He should understand that defaming India at international platforms will not help him come to power," Shah said.
"If he aspires to return to power, he should stop travelling abroad and start visiting villages across India. Then, perhaps, he may have a chance," the Union Home and Cooperation Minister said.
Shah also appealed to Congress workers to question their leadership over the party's electoral performance, warning that continuing with its present political approach could keep it out of power for another 30 years.
"Winning or losing elections depends on the performance of political parties and their leaders. The Congress got an opportunity to govern the country for 10 years (2004-14), but during its tenure, corruption of Rs 12 lakh crore took place. People eventually voted the party out of power and brought Narendra Modi to the Prime Minister's Office," Shah said.
The Modi government had maintained a corruption-free record over the last 12 years, with not even a minor allegation against the Prime Minister, Shah claimed.
Under the Modi government, the country had made significant progress in agriculture, industrial development, the space programme, the startup ecosystem, railway modernisation, aviation infrastructure and education, he said.
"From reaching the Moon's south pole to developing the startup ecosystem, reviving the railways, increasing the number of airports from 76 to 150, introducing the National Education Policy and establishing a separate Ministry of Cooperation, several important initiatives have been undertaken during the last 12 years," Shah said.
Shah further said political differences should not prevent parties from maintaining India's image and credibility on international platforms.
"Whether it is the ruling party or the Opposition, or any political party, can anyone justify defaming India and its Prime Minister before an international audience?" he asked.
Gandhi was attempting to undermine India's development story and democracy before the international community, Shah alleged, adding that voters across the country should respond to this when they cast their votes.
"The country wants Rahul Gandhi to come to the ground, visit villages and understand people's concerns. But I know after a few days, he will once again travel abroad. His ambition of returning to power cannot be fulfilled in this manner," Shah said.
Taking a swipe at the Congress, Shah said there had been a demand for a separate ministry for the cooperative sector during the party's rule, but it was Prime Minister Modi who fulfilled it.
(With PTI inputs)