NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday took a sarcastic dig at the BJP over its criticism of Italian politician Giacomo Filibeck’s remarks on Indian politics.“If Modi can offer Melody chocolates to the Italian Prime Minister, then an Italian politician can come here and speak about this country,” Raut said while speaking to reporters in Delhi.“Democracy is being murdered in the country; this is a UN and human rights issue, not a matter involving any foreign power.”His remarks came amid a political row over Filibeck’s comments at the Congress-organised Bharat Summit 2026 in Hyderabad, where the secretary general of the Party of European Socialists (PES) spoke in support of Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.Filibeck had said democracy was “under attack” in India and called for international support to defend it. He also used the slogan ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’, popularised by Gandhi, drawing criticism from the BJP.The BJP accused the Congress of allowing foreign political representatives to comment on India’s internal affairs and questioned their participation in the summit.
