New Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned the manner in which Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have conducted their protests, asserting that while the right to demonstrate is an essential feature of democracy, it must be exercised within the framework of the law and established norms.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia criticised Rahul Gandhi, describing him as an anarchic leader. Bhatia said the Constitution guarantees citizens the fundamental right to protest peacefully, but that the exercise of this right must remain within prescribed rules and reasonable limits.

Bhatia stated that designated venues were available for demonstrations and that protests at such locations must also be conducted peacefully. He added that obtaining the necessary permissions was essential before organising such demonstrations.

The BJP spokesperson also questioned the reported announcement by the Congress and Rahul Gandhi about staging protests on the 10th and 11th before approaching the Supreme Court.

BJP Says Supreme Court Is Not a Place for Mob Rule

Bhatia said the Supreme Court was a temple of justice where there could be no place for mob rule. He maintained that, in a democratic system, the right to register a protest must go hand in hand with respect for the law, the judiciary and established institutional procedures.

BJP Welcomes Supreme Court Ruling on Scheduled Caste Status

Bhatia also described the Supreme Court’s ruling on religious conversion and Scheduled Caste status as significant. He said the apex court had upheld a decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court concerning whether a person who had converted to Christianity could be recognised as a member of a Scheduled Caste.

According to Bhatia, the Supreme Court had clarified that Scheduled Caste status was available only to individuals professing Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions. He said that people professing religions other than these were not entitled to claim Scheduled Caste status or the benefits associated with it.

The BJP spokesperson described the ruling as important for interpreting the legal provisions governing Scheduled Caste status and the benefits linked to it.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar