Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has come under fire after featuring a prohibited Chinese drone in a social media video, in which he advocated for strengthening India’s domestic production capabilities for drones instead of relying on rhetoric.

In the video, Rahul Gandhi emphasized that drones symbolize a broader technological framework, representing grassroots-level innovation driven by a robust industrial ecosystem. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the government had failed to understand this, choosing instead to deliver scripted speeches on artificial intelligence while rival nations progressed with new technologies. “India needs a solid manufacturing base, not empty slogans,” he asserted.

However, his video drew sharp backlash, notably from Smit Shah, president of the Drone Federation of India (DFI), who pointed out that the drone showcased was a DJI model from China—a brand banned in India since 2022. Shah condemned the Congress leader for disparaging the Indian drone sector while promoting an illegal product.

Shah further refuted Gandhi's claims, asserting that India has over 400 drone manufacturers and more than 50 companies producing essential drone parts, such as batteries, flight controllers, motors, and propellers. He stressed that while the industry is still evolving, blanket criticism was unfair and unproductive. “Constructive collaboration among industry, academia, and policymakers has driven the sector forward,” Shah noted.

Raising concerns over the legality of the drone's usage, Shah questioned how Rahul Gandhi acquired a banned DJI drone and whether he had complied with the Drone Rules 2021, which mandate drone registration, remote pilot certification, and clearance from authorities when flying in restricted zones.

Former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai also criticized Gandhi, urging him to refrain from misrepresenting India’s industrial achievements. Pai highlighted India’s global standing as the fifth-largest manufacturing country, the second-largest steel and cement producer, the third-largest automobile manufacturer, and the second-largest mobile phone producer, among other feats. “This progress has largely occurred in the past decade. Such misleading narratives undermine India’s growth story,” he said.

The controversy surrounding Rahul Gandhi's drone video has ignited a broader debate on India’s manufacturing progress and the need for fact-based discourse on technological advancement.