Ruling party to step up counteroffensive against INDIA Bloc

NEW DELHI: BJP is stepping up its counteroffensive against the Opposition's SIR campaign, combining nationwide outreach through civil society and non-political platforms with a series of padyatras led by senior leaders.

In a parallel push, Citizens for Democracy, described by BJP sources as a civil society group, will organise a mock parliament in Delhi on Friday, seen as a counter to Congress' exercise on ECI.

BJP is seeking to take the debate beyond rallies by engaging citizens, students and youth on electoral reforms and the SIR exercise. "The Opposition wants to change the regime through anarchy, but the people of India will reject the idea. They believe in a peaceful, democratic process," Union minister Kiren Rijiju said.


On rallies and mock parliament planned by the Opposition, he said: "If they can gather people, we can also gather people. But that will not decide the fate of the government. It is decided by the ballot."

BJP chief Nitin Nabin will lead a padyatra in Rohtak, while former Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan will participate in a similar march in Faridabad. The choice of Haryana is significant. The state surrounds Delhi on three sides and was a major source of mobilisation for Congress-led Opposition's recent show of strength during its march towards the Supreme Court over the SIR issue. Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda was seen as a key mobiliser of the crowd. BJP's decision to deploy Nabin and Pradhan in neighbouring constituencies on the day of the INDIA bloc rally signals an attempt to challenge the Opposition on its mobilisation ground.

Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao

The party's broader campaign, Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao began on October 22 and will run in two phases, with the first ending on November 5 and the second scheduled from November 11 to 30. Nabin reviewed the political response at the BJP headquarters on Thursday, meeting party general secretaries and Union ministers. Sources said the discussions focused on the Opposition's sustained campaign against SIR and the party's counterstrategy.