Political tempers are flaring in Uttar Pradesh as Cabinet Minister OP Rajbhar accuses Rahul Gandhi of chronically embarrassing the nation on world forums. The pointed criticism surfaced in Azamgarh amid backlash over Youth Congress’ disruptive, topless protest at the AI Summit, which drew Anurag Thakur’s ‘traitor’ label for Gandhi in Parliament.
Interviewed on Wednesday, Rajbhar remarked, ‘Thakur voiced his opinion, but Rahul invariably puts India on trial whenever he speaks or travels.’ He dissected Gandhi’s EC criticisms as hypocritical: ‘Benefiting from their verdicts while slamming them? Step down first.’ Rajbhar nodded approval to SP MP Awadhesh Prasad’s rejection of the protest, calling the bare-bodied vandalism at a global event deplorable.
Turning to terror probes, Rajbhar excoriated Imran Masood for claiming LeT Bangladesh module detainees—remanded for seven days—are victims. ‘Masood spews lies for votes. Fake notes printed in madrasas in Prayagraj and Kushinagar—do we ignore that?’ he demanded, flipping the script on Masood’s freedom.
Insisting Congress prioritizes politics over patriotism, Rajbhar’s words amplify BJP’s offensive against perceived anti-national posturing. In UP’s high-stakes arena, this rhetoric fuels partisan fires, promising intensified battles over governance, security, and institutional trust.