BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad says democracy has defeated ‘anarchy’ amid CJP protest, Parliament will govern

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said Indian democracy had defeated attempts to promote anarchy, asserting that the country would be governed through Parliament and not the streets.

His remarks came amid the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) call for protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

“What has happened throughout the day today and over the past three days has made two things very clear. Indian democracy has defeated the pursuit of anarchy. India's democracy has crushed attempts to promote anarchy. Another message has been conveyed that the country will be governed through Parliament, not the streets,” Prasad said.


He said the BJP was not opposed to protests in a democracy but accused the Opposition of using street demonstrations as a weapon following electoral defeats.

“We are not against protests. Naturally, protests should take place in a democracy. But you have weaponised street protests because of your electoral defeats. And the surprising thing is that you are not even moving together. There is competition even within that,” he said.

Prasad also referred to the BJP’s electoral performance in Assam, Nandigram and Puducherry, saying the results came while protests were taking place in Delhi and other parts of the country.

“The BJP wishes to particularly highlight that this stellar performance in Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry occurred while a movement for anarchy was underway in Delhi and other parts of the country,” he said.

On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Prasad said the exercise had been conducted more than nine times in the country and was a provision under the law.

“SIR has been conducted in the country more than nine times; it is a provision under the law. Today, through you, I wish to pose a question to the nation. Those who have passed away cannot remain voters, should they? Those who do not reside in their respective Lok Sabha or Assembly constituencies cannot be registered as voters, nor can one be a voter in more than one place,” he said.