In India, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the Narendra Modi government is destroying constitutional institutions by appointing Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologues to important positions, vowing to remove his rival from power in the 2019 elections.

“The Modi government is crushing the Supreme Court; it has shut down Parliament,” said Gandhi at the launch of his party’s nationwide Save the Constitution campaign in Delhi.

Gandhi’s criticism relates to the shutdown of Parliament’s budget session and four Supreme Court judges criticising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in public.

“For the first time in the history of India, four top Supreme Court judges sought justice from the people of this country. Generally, the people seek justice from the courts and judges,” he said. 

The Congress president also said that if he is allowed to speak in Parliament, Prime Minister Modi “will not be able to” reciprocate. He also saod the people of India will convey their “Mann ki Baat” to PM Modi in the Lok Sabha elections next year.