Italian politician Giacomo Filibeck raised Congress's 'Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod' slogan as Rahul Gandhi applauded. BJP and BRS leaders called the remarks foreign interference in India's domestic politics.Rahul Gandhi applauds Italian leader's 'Vote Chor' slogan, Rijiju hits backNew Delhi,Nov 15, 2026 17:57 ISTUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday took a swipe at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he was seen laughing and applauding when Italian politician Giacomo Filibeck raised the Congress's 'Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod' slogan at the Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad.Filibeck, the Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists (PES), echoed the Congress's slogan while addressing the gathering in Telangana, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) over what they described as foreign interference in India's internal affairs.Reacting to the incident, Rijiju questioned Gandhi's response to the remarks and asked who laughs when a foreign national insults the country.In a post on X, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister took a sarcastic swipe at the Congress leader without directly naming him. "Have you ever seen anyone laughing when India is insulted by a foreigner?

I'm not asking about which Indian goes abroad to insult India," Rijiju tweeted.In another post, Rijiju also targeted Gandhi over the Centre's action against Maoist insurgency, saying the Congress leader should thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for eliminating armed Maoists. "Rahul ji, thank Modi ji for eliminating the Armed Maoists. Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh ji had famously described Left-Wing Extremism and Naxalism as 'The single biggest internal security threat' to India," he wrote."Next target is to finish Dimagi Naxals," the minister added.ITALIAN LEADER RAISES 'VOTE CHOR, GADDI CHHOD' SLOGANAddressing the Bharat Summit, Filibeck backed Gandhi's campaign against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and praised him for defending the principle of "one person, one vote"."Rahul Gandhi has defended a simple principle on which every democracy rests; 'one person, one vote'.

His campaign for clean and transparent voter rolls and the thousands who marched with him to Ramlila Maidan just two weeks ago remind us that democracy is not given. It is defended by people willing to stand up for it. 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod'," Filibeck said.He also repeated the slogan in English, saying, "Vote thief, leave your seat."This is an Anti-Bharat Summit & here is the proof.!

Congress once tried to make an Italian national the Prime Minister of India. Now, at its Anti-Bharat Summit, an Italian political leader is commenting on India’s internal affairs!

Congress govt under Revanth Reddy gave foreign political representatives the stage to interfere in our domestic politics & Rahul Gandhi is shamelessly laughing. This is his hatred towards our country India’s democracy belongs to 140 crore Indians.

Congress has no mandate to turn a summit on Indian soil into a platform for foreign political interference.— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) November 14, 2026The Italian politician referred to the opposition march organised at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan two weeks earlier and credited the Congress with building the democratic foundation of modern India.Filibeck also defended his participation in the summit, arguing that such gatherings were important to draw international attention to challenges facing democracy."I believe that these kinds of gatherings, conferences, and summits are vital to raise international attention on concerning challenges. Democracy is under attack in India, and we need to defend it.

And the best way to defend it is to stand by Rahul Gandhi and the Indian Congress Party," he said.#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's statement, Giacomo Filibeck, Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists (PES), says, "I believe that these kinds of gatherings, conferences, and summits are vital to raise international attention on concerning challenges. Democracy is under attack in India, and we need to defend it.

And the best way to defend it is to stand by Raul Gandhi and the Indian Congress Party. Together with the Indian Congress Party and many other players around the globe, we are part of a progressive alliance, political movements that believe in values like social justice, climate justice, human rights, and true democracy, not the corrupted one..."— ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2026He added that the Congress and several political movements across the world were part of a progressive alliance that believed in social justice, climate justice, human rights and democracy.BJP, BRS SLAM CONGRESS OVER FOREIGN POLITICIAN'S REMARKSFilibeck's comments drew criticism from the BJP and the BRS, with leaders questioning why a foreign politician was commenting on India's domestic political issues at a Congress event.BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain condemned the slogan, calling Filibeck's remarks unacceptable and accusing the Congress of bringing foreign politicians into India's domestic political discourse."The slogans raised by Italian leader Giacomo Filibeck at a Congress meeting are completely unacceptable.

No foreigner has the right to interfere in India's internal affairs," Hussain said.VIDEO | Delhi: On the BJP's criticism of an Italian leader's slogans at a Congress event, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain says, "The slogans raised by Italian leader Giacomo Filibeck at a Congress meeting are completely unacceptable. No foreigner has the right to interfere in India's internal affairs.

Congress is now promoting people like this from across the world, and the remarks made are highly objectionable. The Congress cannot find people within the country and is now getting foreigners to raise slogans." (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2026He further alleged that the Congress was promoting foreign leaders because it could not find people within the country to raise such slogans."The Congress cannot find people within the country and is now getting foreigners to raise slogans," he added.Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao also accused the Congress of allowing foreign leaders to mock India's democracy and targeted Gandhi over his reaction to the slogan."Isn't it treason to let foreign leaders mock our country's democracy and proudly applaud their remarks?

Rahul Gandhi no longer behaves like an Indian leader. He is acting like a puppet under the watchful eyes of his foreign masters, dancing to their orders," Rao wrote on X.BRS leader and National Media Panelist Karthik Indra Reddy Patlolla also criticised the Congress, questioning why a foreign politician was being allowed to comment on India's internal political matters.

He accused Gandhi of encouraging Filibeck's remarks.SANJAY RAUT DEFENDS ITALIAN LEADER'S REMARKSShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut defended Italian politician Giacomo Filibeck's remarks at the Bharat Summit, hitting back at the BJP's criticism of a foreign leader commenting on India's internal affairs.Drawing a comparison with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Raut questioned why an Italian politician should not be allowed to speak about India.VIDEO | Mumbai: "If Modi can offer Melody chocolates to the Italian Prime Minister, then an Italian politician can come here and speak about this country. Democracy is being murdered in the country; this is a UN and human rights issue, not a matter involving any foreign power," says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on the Italian politician's remarks during the Bharat Summit. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2026"If Modi can offer Melody chocolates to the Italian Prime Minister, then an Italian politician can come here and speak about this country.

Democracy is being murdered in the country; this is a UN and human rights issue, not a matter involving any foreign power," Raut said.- Ends