Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 15 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Sunday accused Congress leaders of colluding with foreign forces to destabilise the country, alleging that they were attempting to harm India's economy and law and order with the help of foreign agents.
Reacting to the political row over Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks on democracy at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, Pathak alleged that Congress leaders were attempting to harm the country's interests with the support of foreign agents.
“The people of this country are well aware of the failed attempts by Congress leaders, in collusion with foreign forces, to ruin India's economy and its law and order.”
He further alleged that Congress leaders were operating with the support of foreign agents.
“They are operating with the help of foreign agents. The public will never forgive them...” Pathak said.
Earlier in the day, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari called the Congress “anti-India” and accused Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of seeking foreign interference to bring about a change in the government.
In a post on X, Bhandari alleged that Gandhi was acting at the behest of foreign powers and seeking to create instability in the country.
“Rahul Gandhi has become a puppet of foreign powers & George Soros, wanting instability in India. He begging for removal of Modi govt with foreign delegates & members of George Soros present proves: - Rahul is against Indian Democracy.- Rahul Gandhi wants foreign interference in Indian Democracy,” he said.
“Congress is anti-India. Rahul Gandhi wants regime change with foreign help. Rahul Gandhi is no longer LOP, he is behaving as puppet of foreign powers wanting instability in India,” he said.
The BJP leaders' remarks came after Gandhi, while addressing the valedictory session of the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad on Saturday, alleged that democracy in India was "destroyed" in 2014 and raised questions over the electoral process.
Addressing the gathering, Gandhi claimed that the flow of large amounts of money into the political system had transformed the electoral landscape in 2014. He said the Opposition initially struggled to understand the developments but later identified what he described as the destruction of democracy.
"In 2014, we witnessed a completely new election, something we've never seen before. Millions and millions and millions of dollars injected into the political system... The electoral system that was used to close fights, coalition, is suddenly upturned, and I would be lying if I said that the opposition was in shock... There was this crisis in Indian politics for a decade. And then suddenly, we discovered what was happening. We discovered it, and we have proven it without any doubt is that democracy was destroyed in India in 2014," he said.
The Congress leader also questioned the legitimacy of elections, alleging discrepancies in voter records and raising concerns over the electoral process.
Gandhi claimed that 140 million people who voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had been declared either non-existent voters or non-voters a few months ago.
"140 million people who voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha election were declared as either non-existent voters or non-voters a few months ago... If the election commission has declared 140 million voters illegal non-voters, then how is that election possibly legitimate?" he said. 
Referring to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Gandhi further alleged that seven million new voters were added within three months between the Lok Sabha and subsequent state elections, claiming that all of them voted for the BJP.
"We have an example in Maharashtra where we have a national election; our alliance fights, wins the national election. Three months later, we are decimated... We start looking into the details, and we find that we get the exact same votes in both elections. 7 million new voters are added in three months, and every single one of those 7 million voters votes for the BJP, and they win the election," he said.