NEW DELHI: BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Thursday questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s alleged links with foreign-based organisations, including Progressive International and Indian Alliance Paris, accusing them of amplifying protests in India and alleging a wider conspiracy to create “anarchy and chaos” in the country.Addressing a press conference, Bhatia repeatedly referred to Gandhi as “Rahul Gaddar” and alleged that the Congress leadership’s engagement with international groups raised questions about their activities, funding and possible coordination with protests in India. His remarks followed a Fox News Digital investigation that claimed to have identified 101 organisations across nine countries involved in organising, coordinating or amplifying demonstrations.“The subject is the model of anarchy, chaos, and treachery that the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is presenting before the country. Now, a news report was published in a very prestigious newspaper today, regarding how these threads of treachery are connecting with foreign agencies,” Bhatia said.“If it is asked, who is the commander-in-chief of this traitor? Who is the leader of this traitor? Then it would not be wrong,” he added.Bhatia cited the report’s references to Indian Alliance Paris, a France-based organisation, alleging that it was among the first to share videos and amplify social media posts concerning Gandhi’s detention during a protest. He questioned whether the organisation’s activities indicated an attempt by foreign-based groups to influence the narrative around India’s domestic political affairs.“This Progressive International organisation describes itself as a transnational anti-capitalist organisation. According to the report I showed, the unrest and vandalism of historical monuments in France, the incidents in Spain, what is happening in India, and the events in Albania are all linked to Progressive International”, Bhatia claimed, alleging that the events formed part of a coordinated effort to challenge elected governments and constitutional institutions.“Wherever there is an elected government, they want to overthrow it. They want to destroy constitutional institutions such as the Supreme Court and Parliament, as well as historical buildings..,France, Albania, Spain and Delhi protests — everything is linked”, He claimed, referring to a Congress social media post documenting a meeting between Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and a delegation from the organisation at 10 Janpath in New Delhi in April, 2025.“Rahul Gandhi… Rahul the ‘Gaddar’? Does he not have any strength left in him anymore, that now he has to take the help of such agencies and organisations that are anti-India?” Bhatia said.Bhatia also referred to a social media post by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut about protests in Albania, alleging that it could be interpreted as support for actions against constitutional institutions. He linked this to slogans raised by protesters on the Supreme Court premises, which he claimed were part of a broader attempt to undermine democratic institutions.“Protesting is a fundamental right, but destruction, destroying institutions, arson, and violent demonstrations are not fundamental rights,” Bhatia said.He demanded that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress disclose what was discussed during the meeting with Progressive International, clarify whether any agreement had been reached and explain the sources of funding for the organisations, including whether they had links with foreign individuals or entities.The Fox News Digital report, titled Global Chaos Inc Grows to 101 Groups, also referred to an international coalition of 28 communist and socialist youth organisations allegedly mobilising students for coordinated strikes across Europe. It said the network extended to the US, UK, Greece, Brazil and India, with groups mobilising supporters, calling strikes and amplifying demonstrations through international media outlets.The report also cited the Neville Roy Singham network and Indian Alliance Paris as alleged amplifiers of French demonstrations on social media, drawing parallels with student protests in India. The claims of coordinated efforts to influence protests in India were not independently established by the material cited at the press conference.
Bhatia also criticised Rahul’s interactions with British MP Jeremy Corbyn and US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, alleging that their positions on Kashmir were contrary to India’s interests. He accused Rahul of seeking support from organisations he described as anti-India. “Such organisations may be anti-India, but how can the LoP of the country India be anti-India?”, he asked.