"Certainly the freedom of the press in India is getting weaker...

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a tour of America these days. Speaking to reporters at the National Press Club in Washington DC on Thursday, Gandhi took a dig at issues related to national politics, claiming that press freedom in India is under threat and the world can see it. During an open interaction with journalists in the US capital, Gandhi said freedom of the press is very important for a functional democracy and there should be an open forum for criticism. He alleged that there is dominance over the institutional structure, which has made the issue a matter of national discourse.

"Certainly, press freedom in India is getting weaker. It is clearly visible in India and the rest of the world can also see it. Freedom of press is very important for democracy. One should get an open platform for criticism. India's institutional framework allowed India to talk and Indians to have a say. I see India as an interaction between its people between different cultures, languages and histories. Mahatma Gandhi laid out the framework to enable that conversation fairly and freely. That structure, which allows this dialogue, is coming under pressure," he said.

"I don't believe everything I hear. I travelled across India and talked to millions of Indians, they didn't seem very happy to me. They agreed that there are serious issues like inflation."

Addressing the Indian community in California, Rahul Gandhi took a dig at PM Modi, saying that some people in India have the illusion that they know everything. The BJP has accused the Congress leader of tarnishing India's image on foreign soil. Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Rahul Gandhi says that I have brought the message of love in the market of hate. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi why are you spreading the market of hate. Union minister Giriraj Singh said the whole world knows Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a "clown" and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personality is beyond their comprehension. He criticised the Congress leader for his recent remarks on Modi.

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