Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of attempting to divide the country and create an atmosphere of anarchy to achieve their political goal of “regime change”, drawing parallels with Lord Curzon’s partition of Bengal in 1905 and Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s role in India’s Partition in 1947.
Addressing reporters during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ padyatra in Lucknow, Chouhan described the march as a “satyagraha against anarchy”. He said the large turnout reflected people’s determination to protect democracy from what he called the opposition’s divisive politics.
The Union Minister alleged that opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and other INDIA bloc constituents, were following a path that could weaken the country.
“Attempts were made to divide and break the country three times, in 1905 by Lord Curzon, in 1947 by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and now by the Congress and the INDI alliance. From the Samajwadi Party to other constituents, they are all daydreaming of regime change by stoking anarchy in the nation. But this surging sea of people is committed; we will not allow democracy to be weakened at any cost,” Chouhan said.
Chouhan defends electoral roll revision
Chouhan also targeted the opposition over the ongoing revision of electoral rolls, accusing it of misleading voters by questioning the process.
He said the exercise had removed duplicate entries, deleted the names of deceased persons and struck off illegal infiltrators who had managed to get their names on the electoral rolls.
“Under the voter list revision, duplicate entries have been eliminated, names of deceased persons have been removed, and illegal infiltrators who managed to get listed have been struck off. This is a purification of the electoral rolls. But Congress and the INDI alliance are attempting to peddle a false narrative and mislead the citizens,” he said.
The minister’s remarks came amid opposition protests in Delhi, where INDIA bloc leaders have been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar.
Dismissing the demonstrations, Chouhan said the opposition would not succeed in destabilising the government by gathering crowds at protest sites.
Emergency invoked in attack on Congress
Chouhan invoked the Emergency imposed by the Congress government in 1975, accusing the party of having a history of undermining democratic institutions.
“The INDI alliance thinks that by gathering crowds at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, they can destabilise the country. They are mistaken. Millions have taken to the streets to protect democracy. The people have unshakable faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was the Congress that sinned by killing democracy by imposing the Emergency and dismissing elected governments. They will not succeed,” he asserted.
The padyatra was attended by Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and several senior party functionaries.
A large number of BJP workers marched through Lucknow, carrying national and party flags. Participants raised slogans including “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” along the route.
The BJP described the march as an effort to defend democracy and oppose what it alleges is an attempt by opposition parties to create political instability.
‘Irresponsible parties’ attempting to break people’s trust in ECI
Meanwhile adressing a similar rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, Union Minister and former BJP National President JP Nadda on Tuesday lashed out at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, calling them “irresponsible” and accusing them of “attempting to break” people’s trust in the Election Commission.
Taking aim at the Opposition, the Union Minister said the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court had earned global recognition through years of dedicated work. He accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of undermining public confidence in the poll panel.
“Some irresponsible parties, especially the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have attempted to break the people’s trust in the Election Commission,” he said.
Nadda also criticised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, comparing his reaction to electoral defeats to that of schoolchildren who blame their teachers for poor marks.
“Whenever he (Rahul) loses polls, he blames the Election Commission while considers himself smart whenever he wins any election,” Nadda remarked.
Highlighting the Election Commission’s efforts to ensure that voters could exercise their franchise, the Union Minister pointed to polling arrangements in Gujarat’s Gir forest and Malogam in Arunachal Pradesh. He said the poll panel had enabled people in these remote locations to cast their votes despite the challenging terrain.