Rahul Gandhi has become permanent part of 'anti-nationalist toolkit': JP Nadda

The BJP leaders asked Gandhi to "first demonstrate" his regret as the Congress leader met Birla seeking permission to speak in the House amid an impasse in Parliament over his comments in the UK.

Rejected repeatedly by people, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has become a permanent part of the 'toolkit' working against India, said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda On Friday.

"It's unfortunate that the Congress party is indulging in anti-national activities. After being repeatedly rejected by the nation, Rahul Gandhi has now become a permanent part of this anti-nationalist toolkit," Nadda said in a video conference.

Nadda raised doubts over Rahul Gandhi's intention to "demand the intervention of another country in the internal matters of India".

"Rahul Gandhi, what is your intention when you demand the intervention of another country in the internal matters of India?" he asked.

"What is this if not strengthening the traitors? Rahul Gandhi on foreign soil said that democracy has finished in India and Europe and the US should intervene. What could be more shameful than this?" he said.

"At a time when India is becoming the 5th largest economy in the world and G20 meetings are being held here, Rahul Gandhi on foreign soil is insulting the nation and the Parliament," the BJP president added.

"Rahul Gandhi must apologise...In India's history since independence, even in the most difficult times, none of India's leaders ever appealed to foreign powers to act against the Indian govt. This is a very serious matter in independent India's history," he demanded.

Top BJP leaders Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Anurag Thakur, Giriraj Singh and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Gandhi of "lying" about India in London and expressed anger that the Congress leader had not shown any remorse for his actions.

The BJP leaders asked Gandhi to "first demonstrate" his regret as the Congress leader met Birla seeking permission to speak in the House amid an impasse in Parliament over his comments in the UK on the state of democracy in India.

On Thursday, the logjam in Parliament continued for the fourth successive day with the ruling BJP and opposition parties sticking to their stands. However, Congress eaders have ruled out an apology by Gandhi.