- At the BJP’s “Save Democracy–Remove Anarchy” padyatra in Bhopal, targets Congress and Rahul Gandhi

- Chief Minister Mohan Yadav says: The public will respond to those who view the Supreme Court and the Election Commission through a political lens

Bhopal, 04 November (H.S.): Amid questions being raised by the Congress over democracy and the dignity of constitutional institutions, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday stepped up its political counter-campaign by taking out a “Save Democracy–Remove Anarchy” padyatra in Bhopal.

Addressing a gathering on Atal Path, Union Minister and former national president of the BJP Jagat Prakash Nadda questioned the Congress’s democratic record, saying that the party which dismissed elected governments 90 times during its rule is now talking of defending democracy- with what face? Referring to the Emergency, he said that he himself was a sufferer of it. Nadda alleged that the Congress and the INDI alliance want to create an atmosphere of instability in the country and are targeting constitutional institutions after electoral defeat.

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal, the party’s national vice-president Lal Singh Arya, and a large number of party office-bearers, public representatives and workers took part in the padyatra. At the gathering, Nadda and the Chief Minister reacted sharply to the Congress’s electoral politics, Rahul Gandhi’s statements, and the questions being raised about EVMs and the Election Commission. BJP leaders linked this to public trust in democratic institutions and accused the Congress of giving political issues the form of institutional disputes.

Congress has given up hope of returning to power for 20-30 years: Nadda

JP Nadda said that the Congress has understood that for the next 20-30 years the public is not going to give it an opportunity to come to power. It is in this political despair that the party is shifting the blame for its electoral defeats onto the Election Commission. Describing Rahul Gandhi’s politics as “hit and run”, he said that allegations of vote theft were made in Maharashtra, Haryana and Karnataka, but when the Election Commission asked for evidence to be submitted along with an affidavit, the Congress backed off.

Nadda said that the process of losing and winning elections is natural in a democracy. Political parties should review the reasons for their defeat. Instead of questioning election results, they should assess their organisational weaknesses and their connect with the public. He accused the Congress of creating an atmosphere of distrust towards the democratic system by sowing doubt about the electoral process.

Why did the Congress not come forward on the challenge to hack EVMs?

Nadda also targeted the Congress over the questions it is raising about EVMs. He said that the Election Commission had given a challenge to hack EVMs, but no Congress leader came forward to accept it. Advising Rahul Gandhi to introspect, he said that before raising questions on EVMs and ballot papers, the Congress should review its political standing and electoral performance.

Referring to the Emergency, Nadda said that the Congress’s record on democracy does not match its present political allegations. He said that during the Emergency, restrictions were imposed on democratic rights and freedom of expression. He himself is a sufferer of that period. For a party with such a history to claim today to defend democracy is itself worth pondering.

People will not forgive those who insult the Supreme Court: Mohan Yadav

On this occasion, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, targeting Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, said that the public will not forgive those who insult the Supreme Court and treat the Election Commission as a packet in their own pocket. He alleged that whenever the court delivered a verdict against the Congress, the party raised questions on the judges and the dignity of the court. The Emergency is an example of this.

The Chief Minister said that respecting constitutional institutions such as the judiciary and the Election Commission is the responsibility of all political parties in a democracy. Everyone has the democratic right to express disagreement with a decision, but it is not appropriate to make the credibility of institutions a part of political controversy. He said that the Congress should keep constitutional propriety in mind in its political activities and statements.

Congress in power for four generations, now slogans against Modi

Dr Mohan Yadav said that under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, the Congress held the reins of the country for a long time. Now, after being out of power, slogans are being raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described Prime Minister Modi as a leader who stays among the people and rules the hearts of the people. The Chief Minister also said that the people’s faith in the country is continuously emerging under the Prime Minister’s leadership. He alleged that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi are trying to spread confusion in the name of political opposition. The BJP will go among the people and give the message of trust and awareness towards democratic institutions.

Chief Minister thanks the public on social media

Sharing pictures of the padyatra on the social media platform X, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said that the crowd that turned out at the “Save Democracy–Remove Anarchy” padyatra held in Bhopal has demonstrated the public’s trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described the presence and address of Union Minister JP Nadda as infusing new energy among workers. The Chief Minister said that the public will respond to the efforts by the Congress and Rahul Gandhi to spread anarchy.

Khandelwal says: The public stands for the dignity of democratic institutions

BJP state president Hemant Khandelwal described the crowd that turned out at the padyatra as a demonstration of public faith in democracy and of the collective strength of the people of Madhya Pradesh. He said that the participation of a large number of citizens on the streets of Bhopal has conveyed a message of support for the dignity of democratic institutions.

Khandelwal alleged that the Congress, turning away from issues of public interest, is moving towards creating distrust in constitutional institutions and spreading political confusion. He said that the tendency to disrupt public order in the name of political opposition is not conducive to democratic dialogue. In a democracy, public trust is paramount, and efforts that weaken it should be answered through public awakening and public participation.

Present at the padyatra and the gathering were Parliamentary Board member Satyanarayan Jatiya, BJP national vice-president Lal Singh Arya, national cell cluster convener and MP Vishnu Dutt Sharma, Cabinet ministers Karan Singh Verma, Vishvas Sarang, Chaitanya Kashyap, Krishna Gaur and Narendra Shivaji Patel, state vice-president Prabhuram Choudhary, state general secretary Rahul Kothari, MPs Alok Sharma and Darshan Choudhary, MLAs Rameshwar Sharma and Bhagwandas Sabnani, and Mayor Malti Rai, along with many other party office-bearers and public representatives.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Mayank Chaturvedi