Rahul Gandhi, the head of the Congress, claimed on Thursday that a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP who had previously served in the Congress had informed him that the BJP practises "ghulami," or slavery.

"I was told in a private meeting by a BJP MP who had formerly served in the Congress that 'ghulami' is employed by the BJP. Gandhi added, "He told me that his heart is still with the Congress," at the Nagpur "Hain Taiyaar Hum" rally.

He informed me that party workers are unheard of and that commands from the top must be obeyed. Gandhi informed me at the gathering that there is no choice, whether one likes it or not.

He went on to say that the government is exerting pressure on all institutions, including major investigative bodies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). Gandhi also discussed an instance in which Maharashtra Congress head Nana Patole is said to have questioned Prime Minister Modi about the amount of GST that farmers receive. "PM Modi didn't like his question, which followed which Patole was out," he remarked.

On Thursday, the 139th anniversary of the party's founding, the Congress party launched its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections of the next year with the massive rally "Hain Taiyaar Hum," which took place in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Sonia Gandhi, the former head of the Congress, and Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the party, both spoke at the event.