Bharat Rises, Rahul Criticises: The Foreign Itinerary of Negativity
“Rahul Gandhi’s Foreign Obsession: Why Demeaning Bharat Abroad Has Become His Habit.”
Paromita Das
New Delhi, 15th October: Every time Bharat takes pride in its achievements—be it global diplomacy, economic reform, or technological leadership—Rahul Gandhi seems eager to remind the world of its alleged flaws. His latest remarks in Peru, accusing Bharat’s education system of serving only “upper castes,” are not just ignorant but damaging. As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tightens its campaign back home for the Bihar elections, Gandhi has once again chosen foreign soil to criticise Bharat, seemingly forgetting that leadership begins with owning one’s nation, not renouncing it.
For someone who aspires to represent Bharat’s future, Gandhi appears obsessed with diminishing its present. His habit of making divisive statements abroad—about caste, democracy, or institutions—reveals a troubling pattern: whenever Congress struggles domestically, he seeks validation internationally.
A Pattern Repeated, a Nation Offended
Rahul Gandhi’s comments in Peru are nothing new. From London to Washington, from Cambridge to Colombia, he has made a career out of framing Bharat as a democracy “in crisis.” Each time, the target is different—sometimes the government, sometimes the institutions—but the tone is the same: condescension toward his own country.
This latest episode, in which he blamed Bharat’s education system for serving only “upper castes,” exposes the deep contradiction at the heart of his politics. The Congress ruled Bharat for nearly 60 years and shaped that very education system he now calls discriminatory. To decry it in front of foreign audiences while his own party’s failures lie unresolved is not bold—it’s hypocritical.
Worse still, such statements undermine Bharat’s growing global reputation as a land of innovation and opportunity. By portraying Bharat as a society defined by discrimination and exclusion, Rahul Gandhi ignores the lived reality of millions who have benefitted from social mobility, affirmative action, and a rising entrepreneurial middle class.
Congress’s Contradictions on Caste
Gandhi’s remarks also expose the double standards of Congress’s caste politics. His slogan, “Jitni abadi utna haq,” translates into a dangerous idea of population-based entitlement rather than opportunity-based equality. The party’s demand to lift the 50% reservation cap and extend quotas to Muslims is seen by many as unconstitutional—an attempt to fracture social cohesion to win votes.
It is worth remembering that this very narrative of division has repeatedly backfired. While Rahul Gandhi accuses others of promoting majoritarianism, his own politics often depends on slicing Bharat into competing segments—Hindu vs. Muslim, upper caste vs. lower caste, rich vs. poor. Instead of offering hope or modern reform, he clings to narratives that weaken national unity and distract from his party’s policy vacuum.
The Foreign Stage: His Preferred Podium
Rahul Gandhi’s choice of venues further amplifies the irony. His latest series of speeches across South America—a region currently governed by socialist leaders with “redistribution” agendas—reveals his ideological comfort zone. Brazil, Colombia, and Peru are not just countries; they are stages where Gandhi rehearses his anti-capitalist, anti-establishment rhetoric without consequence.
But these trips achieve little beyond controversy. While Gandhi lectures students about inclusion, his party back home remains trapped in internal discord. As the NDA prepares for Bihar elections with organisational precision, the Congress flounders—unable to finalise seat-sharing with RJD and the Left, and uncertain about leadership at every level.
BJP spokespersons like Amit Malviya have mocked his priorities, accusing him of choosing “foreign vacations” over electoral strategy. The contrast is glaring: while the ruling alliance focuses on governance and development, the Congress’s most visible face prefers ideological tourism.
Demeaning Bharat to Elevate Himself
The larger concern, however, goes beyond political optics. When a national leader portrays Bharat as regressive or broken on international platforms, it affects not just image but influence. His repeated claims—that Bharat silences dissent or discriminates by caste—feed global narratives used by hostile lobbies to question Bharat’s democratic credentials.
Leaders have a responsibility to critique constructively, but Rahul Gandhi’s tone often borders on derision. His remarks don’t invite reform; they invite ridicule. By vilifying Bharat abroad, he not only distances himself from the Indian electorate but also undermines the very youth and middle class he claims to represent.
In essence, Rahul Gandhi seems less concerned with correcting Bharat’s challenges and more invested in proving Bharat’s dysfunction—especially when standing before a foreign audience.
NDA’s Focus vs. Congress’s Confusion
At a time when the NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consolidated alliances and presented a united strategy for Bihar’s elections, Congress remains disoriented. While BJP and JD(U) leaders coordinated their campaign agenda based on development and governance, Congress negotiators struggled even to finalise candidates.
Rahul Gandhi’s absence during these crucial weeks underscores this leadership vacuum. By prioritising global appearances over grassroots strategy, he signals disengagement from Indian voters. The message is clear: the NDA builds Bharat’s roadmap, while Congress’s main leader keeps redefining Bharat as “broken.”
A Crisis of Vision, Not Just Politics
Rahul Gandhi’s conduct abroad illustrates not just political immaturity but ideological insecurity. He seems unable to celebrate Bharat’s progress because he needs its failures as his political platform. His discomfort with Bharat’s global rise—its diplomatic assertiveness, digital revolution, and economic stability—stems from a deeper fear: irrelevance.
A true leader uplifts his nation’s image; he doesn’t degrade it to earn applause from foreign universities. Criticism is healthy when it intends reform, but Gandhi’s criticism is performative, meant to project moral superiority at Bharat’s expense.
The Sinking Credibility of Imported Narratives
If Rahul Gandhi’s vision of Bharat is the one he repeatedly exports abroad, then “Sone ki Chidiya”—the golden bird—will never rise again. Bharat deserves leaders who see its flaws as opportunities for growth, not headlines for humiliation.
Each trip, each remark, each carefully curated foreign lecture chips away at the credibility not of Bharat but of the man who claims to speak for it. When patriotism becomes performative and self-promotion replaces service, leadership loses its soul.
As Bharat moves toward its next phase of global leadership, it must leave behind those who cannot stop apologising for its success.
