NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday accused the Congress and its allies of attempting to destabilise India through protests against the Election Commission, alleging that their objective was to bring about a Bangladesh-style regime change by creating political unrest.Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Singh said opposition parties were using young people as instruments of political confrontation and attempting to create chaos under the pretext of electoral reforms and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.“Attempts are being made to use the nation’s youth as pawns in a politics of chaos. Some seek a regime change—modelled after the events in Bangladesh—openly admitting that they drew inspiration from the situation in Bangladesh; others, meanwhile, brazenly call for the toppling of the government. This makes it clear that their sole agenda is to dismantle democratic institutions and set the country ablaze…their struggle is not for electoral reform, nor is it about SIR or Gyanesh Kumar; it is not for the sake of a bright future for the nation’s youth—rather, it is a conspiracy to seize power by inciting anarchy in the country...”The defence minister’s remarks come amid continuing protests by opposition parties, INDIA bloc leaders and student organisations against the Election Commission’s electoral roll revision exercise and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rajnath Singh targets Rahul Gandhi
Singh also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of undermining constitutional institutions and using allegations of electoral irregularities for political gains.“India’s constitutional bodies cannot be made sacrificial for political interests. This needs to be understood. Through false outrage, attempts to malign institutions and political opportunism, India’s development journey cannot be affected. Instead of indulging in politics of disruption, Rahul Gandhi should respect the public mandate and do self-introspection of his political role.”The defence minister further questioned Gandhi’s allegations concerning voter lists, citing claims involving alleged duplicate and fake voters.“Rahul Gandhi once claimed that a 70-year-old woman was a double voter. On another occasion, he alleged that a 35-year-old woman was a 124-year-old voter. At times, he even attempted to defame ordinary citizens by labelling them as fake voters…his own party never filed a single formal appeal regarding the electoral rolls; the reason being that they had absolutely no evidence to support such claims. We have never cast doubt upon constitutional institutions—that is simply our character. We have never questioned the nation’s electoral system, nor have we ever sought to mislead the public by defaming constitutional institutions. We have always held the people of this country, the Constitution, and our constitutional institutions in high regard…”Singh maintained that the Congress had failed to substantiate its allegations against the electoral system and accused the opposition of attempting to discredit constitutional institutions.
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BJP alleges conspiracy to destabilise country
Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary also alleged that efforts were underway to destabilise the country and interfere with constitutional institutions.“A conspiracy to destabilise the country is going on. An attempt to make changes to constitutional bodies is also being made…”Rajnath also took a swipe at the Congress’s electoral prospects in Uttar Pradesh, pointing to its prolonged absence from power in the state and questioning Rahul Gandhi’s political strength without the support of the Samajwadi Party.“The Congress party has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for 37 years…I would like to ask Rahul Gandhi: without the Samajwadi Party, do you even have the capability to win your own seat in Rae Bareli?”
