At the BMW facility, Gandhi interacted with company officials and observed the production of cars and motorcycles. Speaking during the visit, he said manufacturing forms the backbone of strong economies and warned that India’s manufacturing sector is in decline. “To accelerate growth, we must produce more and create a robust manufacturing ecosystem,” he said, reiterating the Congress’s long-standing focus on jobs and industrial capacity.
Gandhi arrived in Germany on Wednesday at the invitation of the Progressive Alliance, a global network of 117 progressive political parties. Later in the day, he reached Berlin, where he was welcomed by Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) members. He is scheduled to address an IOC event in the German capital. His visit concludes on December 19, coinciding with the final days of Parliament’s winter session.
The BJP questioned Gandhi’s absence from Parliament, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla deriding him as a “Leader of Tourism.” Congress leaders rejected the criticism, arguing that international engagements are routine for senior political figures. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also undertakes frequent foreign travel.
This is Gandhi’s fourth overseas visit in the past six months. Between July and September, he travelled to London, Malaysia, and South America, including Brazil and Colombia. Several of his past remarks abroad—particularly on the economy, elections, and ideological issues—have sparked political controversy at home.
Despite the criticism, Congress leaders maintain that Gandhi’s international interactions are aimed at building global political ties and highlighting issues related to jobs, democracy, and economic growth.
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