New Delhi: The BJP slammed the Congress-led INDI bloc over its rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, accusing it of trying to create political anarchy, disrupting small businesses and disrespecting sentiments by holding the march on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“What is unfolding today at Ramlila Maidan is not an act of respect for democracy; rather, it is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy-in the name of democracy. This is a foolish, orchestrated drama staged by those who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the people,” Union minister J P Nadda said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Accusing Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of showing little concern for small traders and businessmen during the festive season, he pointed to how the Opposition had not deferred the rally despite repeated appeals by the traders’ body.
“The objective of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party is to paralyse Delhi during this sacred festive season, to strike a blow at the livelihoods of our small-scale shopkeepers and traders, and to incite an atmosphere of unrest and chaos in the country,” he said, as reported by PTI.
The BJP leader also targeted the Opposition over the timing of the march, which coincided with the anniversary of the beginning of the anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“November 1 is the ugliest and darkest blot on India’s democratic history. On this very day, goons patronised by the Congress massacred our innocent Sikh brothers. Thousands and lakhs of Sikh families became homeless overnight,” he said.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also joined in, accusing the Congress and Rahul of being part of a larger conspiracy, allegedly backed by foreign funding, to bring down the country’s elected government.
“The Congress, under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, was the first to subvert the Constitution, the judiciary and democracy in the country… Those who shout ‘vote chori’ have themselves committed ‘Samvidhan chori’. They are the real Constitution thieves,” Fadnavis added after attending the ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakata Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) march organised by the BJP in different parts of the country on Sunday.
BJP president Nitin Nabin also accused the Opposition of trying to undermine constitutional institutions after suffering electoral defeats.
“In a democracy, the public casts their votes and provides a mandate to govern. You did not receive that mandate. Consequently, you find yourself in a state of despair and frustration, and you are choosing to blame constitutional institutions,” he said in Rohtak.
Union minister Kirti Vardhan Singh also criticised the rally, and accused the bloc of “disrupting law and order.
“These people are acting in a completely forced and unreasonable manner. Let them do whatever they want. This stems from the frustration of having been out of power for so many years. They are resorting to all sorts of tactics. By holding such rallies, they end up disrupting law and order. I do not believe this is the right step,” he told reporters.
BJP national spokesperson C R Kesavan also criticised the INDI bloc’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ march, saying that holding the rally on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is “insensitive” and has hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
“Rahul Gandhi and the INDI bloc holding this anarchic march and rally today on the very anniversary of the 1984 Sikh massacre has deeply hurt, pained and insulted the sentiments of the entire Sikh community,” he told ANI.
The BJP also held a protest march in the Hari Nagar area on Sunday against the INDI bloc rally, along with members of the Sikh community.