2019 general election between BJP, Opposition alliance: Rahul Gandhi at LSE

Rahul Gandhi said there has been a ‘systematic attack’ on Indian institutions.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the next general election is going to be fought between the BJP and the Opposition alliance as for the first time there has been a “systematic attack” on Indian institutions.

In an interaction with the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (UK) at the London School of Economics, Rahul Gandhi said the first priority of the Congress is to defeat the BJP. (Reuters/File Photo)

In an interaction with the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (UK) at the London School of Economics, Gandhi said the first priority of the Congress is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and stop institutions in India from being encroached upon.

“The next election is pretty straightforward. On one side, there is BJP, and on the other side, there is every opposition party. The reason is, for the first time, Indian institutions are under attack,” he said.

“What we’re defending is the onslaught on the Indian Constitution. I and the entire opposition have agreed, that our first priority is to stop the poison being spread,” Gandhi said. “The important thing is I operate in a democracy. I have been attacked. I have learned and you can see what I bring to the table.”

Almost everybody in the Opposition are of the view that there is a a “systematic attack” on Indian institutions, Gandhi said.

Standing up for the oppressed is the idea of the Congress and every Indian has this embedded in them. But, Congress is unable to connect to people with this idea, he said.

Gandhi said that from the Indian perspective, development has taken place through the sacrifice of all Indians. Their benefit, too, must go to all Indians. No community should feel like they do not have a voice.