Have To Handle Threats To Democracy Ourselves, Congress Damage Control After Digvijaya Singh Tweet

New Delhi: The Congress appears to have distanced itself from the controversy over its leader Digvijaya Singh’s tweet thanking Germany’s foreign ministry for taking note of Rahul Gandhi’s suspension from the Lok Sabha.

BJP leaders and union ministers have slammed Mr Singh over the tweet, calling it an open attempt to invite foreign powers to interfere in India’s internal matters.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who is in charge of the party’s communications, said the country’s political problems should be solved from within, amid attacks by the BJP for allegedly trying to drag in foreign powers to influence India’s internal matter.

“Congress firmly believes that India’s democratic processes themselves have to deal with the threats posed to our democracy by Mr Modi’s assault on our institutions and his politics of vendetta, intimidation, threats and harassment. Congress and opposition parties will take him on fearlessly,” Mr Ramesh tweeted, without directly mentioning Mr Singh’s comment that had led to a huge controversy.

Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Anurag Thakur slammed Mr Gandhi in tweets, repeating the allegation that he seeks foreign intervention in domestic affairs. The Congress has rubbished the charge, challenging the BJP to produce examples of Mr Gandhi requesting such an intervention. Mr Gandhi has only been speaking about the state of affairs in India in his engagements abroad and not asking for help, his party has said, referring to his speech in the UK recently.