Explained | How BJP linked Rahul Gandhi, George Soros and OCCRP

The BJP on Thursday attacked Congress and claimed there is a link between investigative media platform OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project) and billionaire investor George Soros and Rahul Gandhi.

Calling Gandhi a "traitor of the highest order", BJP said the international forces, including the media platform is trying to destabilise India.

The party also claimed that OCCRP is funded by the foundations owned by George Soros and Rahul Gandhi is said to be known to have connections with Soros.

Adding a picture along with it, BJP wrote "He was also seen walking with Salil Shetty, the Vice President of one of Soros' foundations."

Let us take a look at how according to the BJP, Soros and Rahul Gandhi are linked.

Taking it to X, the BJP posted that a "French investigative journalist has revealed that the US govt controls the media organisation OCCRP, dictating that any story it ran was influenced & lacked genuine backing."

BJP MPs K Laxman and Sambit Patra cited a report in the French media outlet Mediapart to target Gandhi after the ruling party raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, which was adjourned amid noisy interventions by both sides.

In the following thread BJP mentioned how on July 1, 2021, OCCRP had reported of Brazil pulling out of $324 million deal for Covaxin from India and on July 2, Congress "atched onto the article and pushed the narrative further."

"This news had already been reported in June, but Congress reacted only after OCCRP's article," the thread further read.

It was an attempt to malign India, and the Congress leader held the press conference based on the report even though the order was cancelled in June, BJP's Sambit Patra said.

"I have no hesitation in saying he (Gandhi) is a traitor of the highest order," he added.

Similarly, Gandhi targeted the government over the Pegasus issue following an OCCRP report and the media outlet's "hit jobs" on Indian industrialists aimed at tanking Indian markets, Patra said.

"OCCRP set the agenda, and Rahul complied," the post read.

The BJP leader said OCCRP also termed the legal proceedings against Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case, in which the two Congress leaders have been accused of misappropriating assets worth hundreds of crores, "politically motivated".

"OCCRP and Rahul Gandhi are two bodies and one soul," Patra said.

Further BJP questioned why OCCRP defended Rahul Gandhi saying that in July 2022, OCCRP claimed that "that a completely legal proceeding against Rahul Gandhi was politically motivated and sparked "nationwide" protests, which was far from reality."

Patra also highlighted Gandhi's meetings with some people allegedly working against India's interests to make his point.

Adding one more picture of Rahul Gandhi, BJP stated that he has met Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, a Bangladeshi journalist from OCCRP who is known for peddling agendas against India.

Lastly, it said Anand Mangnale, who allegedly handed Chinese money to Sharjeel Imam for the Delhi riots, works for OCCRP, is also linked to Congress and was actively fundraising for them while being part of DPSG.

"Rahul Gandhi does not want India to move ahead. He does not want the Indian Parliament to function," Patra said, claiming that some of these reports were timed with Parliament's sessions so that the Congress could disrupt its proceedings over "fake" news.

Instead of protesting, the Congress should have debated with the BJP over the issue in Parliament, he said.

Echoing the view, Laxman said anti-India forces have been working day in and day out, and the Congress and its allies disrupt Parliament over their agenda.

Patra said Modi lives in people's hearts due to his work and the people will never fall for Gandhi's attempts to fool them.