Dangerous triangle of Soros-OCCRP-Rahul Gandhi trying to destabilise India, says BJP

New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday called Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi a “traitor of the highest order”, accusing the Congress leader of working in consort with “some agencies of America” and billionaire George Soros in a “dangerous triangle trying to destabilise India.” BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue in the Lok Sabha leading to disruptions of the House’s proceedings and prompting the Congress to demand an apology from Dubey. In the Rajya Sabha, too, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi tried to raise the issue amid strong opposition from the Congress.

In the Lok Sabha, Dubey’s comments led to a furore after he alleged that the Opposition had tried to disrupt Parliament proceedings following news reports based on findings of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an organisation he alleged had ties with billionaire investor George Soros. He also said that the Opposition tried to question COVID-19 vaccines, raised the issue of Pegasus spying row, and the Hindenburg reports.

Dubey’s comments led to two adjournments in the Lok Sabha, with the Opposition demanding his apology. Congress MPs then held a demonstration at the Makar Dwar of Parliament.

As the political slugfest continued, the Congress said that the BJP was acting as the “agents of Adani”. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said that the “derogatory remarks” were most unfortunate. “This is not acceptable and remarks of this kind have never been heard in Parliament. The Speaker allowed him to continue with the derogatory remarks, even when he was speaking about customs and conventions of Lok Sabha. The from when Rahul Gandhi stood against Adani, the agents of Adani have started acting against him,” Venugopal said.

Earlier in the day, BJP MPs Sambhit Patra and K Laxman held a press conference at the party headquarters, levelling the same allegations. “I have no hesitation in saying he is a traitor of the highest order,” Patra said. “OCCRP and Rahul Gandhi are two bodies and one soul. Rahul Gandhi does not want India to move ahead. He does not want the Indian Parliament to function.”

In the Rajya Sabha, speaking during the Zero Hour, BJP MP Sudhansu Trivedi alleged that foreign forces were trying to destabilise India as it was emerging as a strategic, economic and diplomatic power. “I want to point out that the Russian government had stated that there is foreign intervention in India's elections. I want to ask the Opposition whether all this is happening by default or nefarious design,” Trivedi said.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore wrote to Speaker Om Birla against the “highly slanderous” language used by Sambhit Patra, urging him to take “immediate and stringent” actions, calling it a clear violation of Parliamentary decorum.

Congress Lok Sabha deputy floor leader Gaurav Gogoi called the BJP leaders “sleeper agents” of the BJP. “The Adani group has sleeper cells inside the BJP. Whenever Rahul Gandhi raises the Modi-Adani nexus, these sleeper cells are activated. They try to defame Rahul Gandhi,” he wrote on X.