Rahul Gandhi (Congress), leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is controlled by billionaire industrialists [1, 2].
These accusations highlight the intensifying friction between India's primary political factions regarding the intersection of corporate interests and national governance. Gandhi's remarks suggest that the current administration's economic and foreign policy decisions are driven by private interests rather than public benefit.
Speaking during an interaction at EIA University in Bogotá, Colombia, Gandhi targeted the Prime Minister's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump [2]. He said, "Modi is not just scared of Trump but is remote‑controlled by Ambani and Adani" [1].
Gandhi framed the current state of Indian governance as a crisis for the nation's political framework. He said, "The democratic system is under attack" [2]. He said the government's existing economic policies could lead to an "economic storm" for the country [1, 2].
Reports on the timing of these remarks vary between sources. The New Indian Express reported the comments occurred on Nov. 2, 2025 [1], while the Free Press Journal dated the interaction to Oct. 2, 2025 [2].
Gandhi's critique focused on the perceived dependence of the Modi government on the Ambani and Adani families. He said that this reliance compromises India's democratic integrity, and exposes the economy to significant risks [1, 2].
“"Modi is not just scared of Trump but is remote‑controlled by Ambani and Adani."”
This confrontation underscores a central theme of the opposition's strategy: linking corporate cronyism to a decline in democratic institutions. By making these claims in Colombia, Gandhi is attempting to internationalize his critique of the Modi administration, framing the internal economic struggle as a matter of global democratic concern.
