New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today raised “serious” concerns over alleged ties between Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros. Calling for national unity against “anti-India forces,” Mr. Rijiju urged a non-political lens to address what he described as a significant issue.
The BJP has accused Sonia Gandhi of associating with organizations funded by Soros’s Open Society Foundations, alleging that these entities have taken positions detrimental to India’s sovereignty, particularly on issues like Kashmir.
“Sonia Gandhi’s past role as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, which reportedly supported controversial stances on Kashmir, is deeply concerning,” said Mr. Rijiju. He also highlighted alleged partnerships between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Soros-linked entities as evidence of external influence in domestic politics.
Opposition Rejects Allegations
Congress and other opposition leaders have dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically motivated. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram described the claims as “dark fantasies” unworthy of serious political discourse.
“We are patriots, and nothing we do undermines India’s unity or integrity,” Chidambaram stated.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav and RJD MP Manoj Jha called the BJP’s accusations routine distractions to divert public attention. “The government should investigate rather than promote conspiracy theories,” said Mr. Jha.
BJP’s Allegations Against OCCRP
The BJP also targeted the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an investigative journalism platform partly funded by Soros. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused the OCCRP of collaborating with the Opposition to destabilize India’s economy, pointing to its reports on the Adani Group as an example.
“Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Adani is based on OCCRP findings, which were amplified by Soros-funded platforms. This demonstrates a dangerous alliance,” Dubey alleged.
Global Reactions
The US government dismissed the BJP’s claims, with an embassy spokesperson stating that US funding for independent journalism does not influence editorial content. The spokesperson called the allegations “disappointing.”
BJP leaders, however, insisted on the existence of a broader conspiracy involving the US “deep state” and Soros-funded entities working against India’s interests.
Political Implications
The allegations have escalated tensions between the BJP and Congress, with parliamentary debates expected to intensify. BJP leaders, including Mr. Rijiju, have urged for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the alleged foreign influences.
