Congress real fascist, dictatorial party: Kishan

Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy accused the Congress of being the “real fascist and dictatorial party” in the country and criticised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for “describing the Narendra Modi-led government as fascist” at the Bharat Summit held in Hyderabad.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP State office here on Saturday, Mr. Kishan Reddy said the Congress had no moral right to lecture others on democracy, given its record during the Emergency, when press freedom and fundamental rights were curtailed and Opposition leaders were imprisoned.

Taking exception to Mr. Gandhi’s allegations of electoral irregularities, he accused the Congress leader of questioning the credibility of elections to conceal his party’s repeated defeats. Questioning the purpose of the Bharat Summit, the Union Minister accused the Congress of using the international gathering to criticise the country and its democratic institutions.

He described the event as an “anti-India summit”. Mr. Kishan Reddy also questioned Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s claim that the summit would help attract investments to Telangana. “When Rahul Gandhi tells foreign delegates that democracy is in danger in India, elections are fraudulent and the country is under fascist rule, how can the Chief Minister expect foreign investments to come to the State?” he asked.

Defending the cancellation of visas for certain foreign nationals, the Minister said the BJP government would not extend a red carpet welcome to those who insulted the Prime Minister or undermined the country’s democratic institutions.