‘Defaming India Globally’: Amit Shah Lambasts Rahul Gandhi Over Youth Congress's AI Summit Protest

Last Updated:March 15, 2026, 13:42 IST

Amit Shah claimed that the Congress, during its previous 15 years of rule in Assam, "pocketed" Rs 150 crore per annum from the state healthcare budget.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the Indian Youth Congress’s “shirtless protest" inside Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit 2026, saying that the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition was attempting to malign the nation in his bid to oppose the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While addressing a gathering in Assam’s Guwahati after unveiling healthcare projects worth Rs 2,092 crore, Shah accused Gandhi of insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defaming India and its democratic institutions He said that the country would not tolerate remarks that tarnish India’s image.

“India will not tolerate such thing. They will never forgive you. I am sure that the protest was held through collaboration with Rahul Gandhi…He is defaming the image of the country worldwide," he said.

He further criticised Gandhi over a protest outside Parliament, mocking him for allegedly sitting at the entrance and eating tea and pakodas.

“We were also in the opposition and staged protests against the government, but there is a right platform for it," he said.

“Parliament is a sacred seat of democracy. Its stairs should not be used for even dharnas. And Rahul Gandhi was having ‘chai-pakora’ there. Doesn’t he know where to have his breakfast?" asked the Union minister.

Shah condemned these incidents which have happened at the behest of the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and with his participation. He said that no Indian supports his acts of “defaming" the country in his bid to oppose the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He further targeted the grand old party, alleging that Assam’s healthcare sector was “in shambles" a decade ago and claiming the previous Congress governments focused only on the “financial health" of its leaders’ families.

The Union Minister claimed that the Congress, during its previous 15 years of rule in Assam, “pocketed" Rs 150 crore per annum from the state healthcare budget.

Shah said that the BJP works for affordable healthcare for all sections of society and lauded Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for bringing the state’s medical facilities at par with states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

“CM Sarma has made Assam self-sufficient in the health sector even before the end of his term. Himanta was telling me in the car today that he wants to make Assam such that not a single patient has to go outside Assam to seek treatment. We want to create a state where poor patients from Bengal and the Northeast can seek treatment," he said.

Shah inaugurated the Rs 675-crore Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in Guwahati, and virtually launched cancer centres at Golaghat and Tinsukia, both under Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), constructed at a cost of Rs 135 crore each.

He also virtually laid the foundation stone for super-speciality hospitals at Diphu Medical College and Hospital (Rs 220 crore), Jorhat Medical College and Hospital (Rs 310 crore), and Barpeta Medical College and Hospital (Rs 284 crore).

He also virtually laid the foundation stone for the Rs 218-crore Swasthya Bhawan in Guwahati and the Rs 115-crore Abhayapuri District Hospital.

Shah arrived in Assam on Saturday evening for a two-day visit, during which he also held closed-door meetings with senior BJP leaders on organisational and poll-related issues.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission for India will announce the schedule for the legislative assembly elections for Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Keralam and Puducherry.

(With inputs from agencies)

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