New Delhi, 30 October (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday targeted the Congress and other opposition parties, alleging that their lack of unity and organisational coordination had become increasingly evident. The party claimed that this was precisely why Rahul Gandhi had to defer the proposed mock Parliament. It further accused the Congress and its allies of disrespecting the country's constitutional institutions in the name of democracy and attempting to mislead the public.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, BJP national spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Dr Sambit Patra said opposition leaders had once again made misleading statements regarding the rally scheduled to be held at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the government was preventing people travelling from outside Delhi from attending the rally. Patra challenged the Congress leader to substantiate the allegation with evidence and identify the individuals who had allegedly been stopped, along with the roads or locations where such restrictions were imposed.

He said that in today's digital age, people routinely record incidents on their mobile phones. If individuals were actually being prevented from reaching Delhi or roads had been blocked, Gandhi should produce video footage to support his claims. Making such allegations without evidence, he said, amounted to creating confusion among the public. Patra urged Gandhi to stop spreading what he described as falsehoods and misleading information.

Describing the opposition alliance as a grouping of dynastic political parties, the BJP spokesperson said these parties joined hands and projected unity ahead of elections, but lacked genuine coordination and mutual trust. He recalled that similar displays of unity had been witnessed before the Lok Sabha elections of 2013, 2018-19 and 2024, as well as during elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Taking a dig at the opposition leaders, Patra said they were quick to hold hands and pose together for photographs, but continued to harbour mistrust towards one another. According to him, each party remained primarily concerned about the number of seats it would secure in an election. Merely projecting an image of unity, he asserted, was not enough to ensure political success.

He claimed that differences among opposition parties over seat-sharing arrangements were bound to surface in the coming elections. Their disagreements, he said, would become apparent during the electoral process, eventually leading to what he described as so-called friendly contests between alliance partners.

Targeting the Samajwadi Party, Patra said the party was celebrating its victory in five Legislative Council seats while simultaneously alleging electoral irregularities in six other constituencies. He questioned how the party could make both claims at the same time and said it needed to clarify whether it was celebrating its electoral success or alleging irregularities in the election process.

He said that if the Samajwadi Party believed that malpractice had taken place, it should file a complaint, providing specific details of the locations and incidents concerned. On the other hand, if it had secured victories, it should celebrate those results. Making contradictory claims, he argued, was inconsistent.

Patra further alleged that instead of strengthening their political position through electoral engagement, opposition parties were attempting to shape the political narrative through marches, rallies and events such as mock Parliament sessions. He accused opposition leaders of seeking a change of government by creating disorder and instability.

The BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi and the Congress should demonstrate greater responsibility towards democracy and the country's constitutional institutions. He added that the people would respond to the opposition's political approach at the appropriate time.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar