New Delhi: During his visit to Colombia, Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised crony capitalism for what he termed as a “wholesale attack on democracy” in India. He also praised the global success of Indian two-wheeler companies.

“Proud to see Bajaj, Hero & TVS doing so well in Colombia. Shows Indian companies can win with innovation, not cronyism. Great job,” Gandhi wrote on social media platform X, and shared a photo of himself in front of a Bajaj Pulsar.

“Three or four businesses taking over the whole economy, having a direct relationship with the Prime Minister, is rampant in India,” said Gandhi at a seminar in EIA University in Medellin, reported New Indian Express.

Gandhi alleged that there was “huge amounts of corruption at a centralised level” and warned that such practices pose risks to India’s economic and democratic system.

“Currently, there is a wholesale attack on the democratic system in India, so that is a risk. The other big risk is different conceptions – some 16-17 different languages, different religions... So, allowing these different traditions to thrive, and giving them space to express themselves is very important for a country like India. We cannot do what China does, which is to suppress people and run an authoritarian system,” said Gandhi.

Gandhi spoke about India’s philosophical and spiritual traditions as a global strength and said that the country has profound ideas that remain relevant in today’s world.

“India has a much more complex system compared to China... Our design will just not accept suppression,” he said, adding that India’s diversity needs space for free expression.

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