Rahul Gandhi acting at behest of foreign powers: BJP chief Nitin Nabin attacks Congress over Delhi rally

Chandigarh: BJP chief Nitin Nabin on Sunday lashed out at Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he was acting at the behest of foreign powers to create anarchy in the country, and asserted that the country will be governed by the Constitution and not by the "Gandhi family's law".

Hitting out at the Congress over the Delhi rally on the 'vote chori' charge, he said the opposition party was targeting constitutional institutions out of frustration over not getting people's mandate.

Also read: INDIA bloc rally: Opposition leaders accuse Centre of blocking protesters, raise concerns over voting rights


Nabin was speaking after leading the BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' padyatra in Haryana's Rohtak as part of the ruling party's counter-campaign against the opposition's narrative on alleged electoral irregularities and against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

The BJP chief said that instead of seeking atonement and offering an apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Congress has come out to protest on the anniversary of the killings in Delhi.

In democracy, people's mandate is supreme, said Nabin.

"When they get this people's mandate in Himachal, when they win in Karnataka, then they say democracy has won, but when they lose in Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, then they say democracy is in danger.

"What kind of dual mentality do you have? This makes one thing clear: they want to run democracy according to the Gandhi family's law, but democracy will run in accordance with the country's constitution," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always respected this country's democracy, the BJP chief said, alleging that if anyone insulted Dr B R Ambedkar, it was the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Nabin's counter came on a day opposition leaders, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, at the INDIA bloc rally in Delhi, called for the ouster of PM Modi to "save democracy" and alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre and in states were formed on stolen mandate.

"An attempt to spread anarchy in the country is being made; I always say that Rahul Gandhi is acting at the behest of foreign powers like their toolkit to challenge the country's democracy. The 140 crore people of the country are watching and they know who these people are," the BJP president said.

He reiterated that BJP will retain power at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the 2029 general elections.

"Modi Ji kahi nahi jayenga, 2029 mein phir say Lal Quile ki prachir say nazar aayenge (Modi will not go anywhere; he will be seen again at the Red Fort in 2029)," he said.

The opposition INDIA bloc held the 'Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao' protest in the national capital on Sunday as part of its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

"The Congress party should have sought atonement and offered an apology for the acts committed against the Sikh brethren -- the massacres and the killings that took place on this very day in 1984. Instead, today, they have come out to stage a protest," the BJP president said.

He said that in a democratic system, the public gives a mandate to run the government, but as the Congress did not receive such a mandate, "they are clearly feeling disappointed and frustrated and are blaming the constitutional institutions for this".

Nabin told the participants in the march, "Every step you have taken during this padyatra has been a step toward strengthening democracy and the democratic forces".

"Today, we are strengthening the roots of democracy by taking out padyatra, while respecting people's mandate. People ask us that BJP is in power in Delhi and several other states; why is the need felt to save democracy," said Nabin, referring to the 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao march.

"When the opposition disrespects people's mandate, NDA workers do the job of giving them the reply by becoming people's voice."

Nabin extended greetings to the people of Haryana on the occasion of the state's foundation day on November 1, but added that the day also holds painful memories.

"... I ask you, Rahul ji: when our Sikh brethren were being murdered and massacred, your father remarked that 'when a big tree falls, the earth shakes'. You ought to have felt remorse for the lives of the many Sikhs that were lost; you should have apologised for that. Yet, you have chosen to stage a protest today," he said.

Nabin dared the Congress leaders to "first put an end to the 'rajtantra' (monarchy) within the Congress centred around Rahul Gandhi" and establish democracy within their party.

"In Congress, there can be a rule of one family, and their party leaders believe what Rahul and his family do will be right. They believe that the law of the land will also be framed as per Rahul's wishes," said Nabin in a swipe at the opposition party.

He said that Rahul Gandhi carries a copy of the Constitution with him, "but in reality, who tore the Constitution to shreds? It is the Congress party".

"The Allahabad High Court had set aside Indira Gandhi's election for misusing government machinery and barred her from contesting elections for six years. Who misused the government machinery? This is the Congress's legacy of stealing votes and disrespecting the people's mandate," he alleged.

Referring to the opposition's charge about 13 crore vote names being cut, he said: "Rahul Gandhi, our party workers can give you an account of every vote, from street to parliament."

Nabin said that of these 13 crore voters, 2.5 crore were those who had died. "I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, why is he advocating for the vote of even those who have died? What is his intent?"

Six crore are those who have shifted from one place to another. "Three crore are 'ghuspaithiya' (infiltrators). People know they ( opposition) are fighting to save these 'ghuspaithiyas'. Till BJP and NDA workers are there, we will drive out these 'ghuspaithiyas' from the country," the BJP chief said.

Attacking the Congress, he said, "They don't have trust in 140 crore people of this country. They only trust three crore 'ghuspaithiyas'. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi what his intent is; why is he challenging democracy?"

BJP in-charge for Haryana Smriti Irani, Union Minister and RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary, Haryana BJP president Archana Gupta, senior BJP leaders including O P Dhankar, Subhash Barala, Capt Abhimanyu, Mohan Lal Badoli, Haryana Ministers Krishan Kumar Bedi and Arvind Sharma, a large number of party workers and locals participated in the march.