The Bharatiya Janata Party loves competition. It is unlikely to come out second best even while competing for the crown of the party with the highest regard for double standards. Consider the rationale behind the BJP’s latest jibe at the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi. Mr Gandhi has been accused by the BJP of ‘defaming’ the nation for his critical remarks on India’s ruling regime during his visit to the United Kingdom. The BJP has also charged the Congress politician with asking Europe and the United States of America to intervene to resuscitate democracy in India. In its enthusiasm and haste to tarnish Mr Gandhi’s image, the BJP, unfortunately, has forgotten to conceal a howler: Mr Gandhi had made it clear that change, if it is to come, would come from within the country. But then the BJP’s inclination to distort narratives, aided and abetted by a docile media and a shadowy ecosystem on social media, is well-documented. Even more galling in this context is the party’s duplicity. Narendra Modi has an unenviable record of muddying the image of his political opponents on his overseas tours. The party gloats in the prime minister’s efforts to discredit, often without substance, his predecessors. Yet, a whiff of criticism from Mr Gandhi has brought out the fangs. The BJP may be confident of whitewashing its deception given the timidity of the media. But its chequered ties with ethics and propriety are likely to remain.

There are two attendant — serious — dimensions to this episode. The first concerns the BJP’s perverse energy for the vilification of its opponents on spurious grounds. This proliferation of the ‘anti-national’ bug is instrumental to the party’s deeper motive of crushing critical and dissenting voices. This can only be inimical to Indian democracy, a point that was reiterated by Mr Gandhi. The other, equally damaging, aspect is the possibility of the BJP’s domestic political agenda hurting India’s diplomatic interests. The West has, of late, emerged as the regime’s favourite bugbear. Be it the government’s recent retaliation against the BBC or the foreign minister’s periodic admonishment of Western nations on a range of issues, Mr Modi’s government is seldom hesitant to spin conspiracy theories that point an accusing finger at the West. The BJP seems to have forgotten that there are no permanent foes or friends in diplomacy. China’s shadow on India’s northern borders or on the Indo-Pacific is lengthening. India need not belittle the West needlessly during such an hour.