Union Home Minister Amit Shah led BJP’s Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao (Save Democracy Remove Anarchy) march in Karnal on Thursday November 5.
Hundreds of party workers and supporters took part in the foot march organised by BJP against ongoing political confrontation between it and opposition parties over allegations of electoral irregularities and SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of electoral rolls.
The march started from Sector 12 and reached Dayanand Chowk in Karnal where Shah along with senior BJP leaders addressed a public gathering. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister and Karnal MP Manohar Lal, Haryana BJP president Archana Gupta, BJP leader Smriti Irani and several state ministers were also present at the programme.
The march is part of the BJP’s nationwide political campaign to counter opposition ‘Vote Chori’ allegations and criticism of ECI. It aims to communicate BJP’s stand on electoral roll revision and defend functioning of democratic institutions.
Amit Shah Targets Rahul Gandhi
Addressing the gathering after the march Amit Shah targeted Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi over Parliament functioning. Shah said Gandhi has turned parliamentary disruptions and boycotts into a political practice.
Parliament should continue to be the forum for political discussions and disagreements, Home Minister said adding that Congress leader should come inside House and have meaningful debates rather than disrupt parliamentary proceedings.
Shah also grilled Rahul Gandhi on his foreign visits (he recently went to Vietnam). He asked him what purpose he had visited the country for, who he met there and how long did he stay back etc saying that since Gandhi is Leader of Opposition in Parliament public had a right to know because he was constitutionally entitled to it.
BJP Reiterates Its Position on SIR
The controversy over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become a major bone of contention between BJP and opposition parties.
Opposition leaders have alleged electoral malpractices, deletion of names of eligible voters and the functioning of the Election Commission. The INDIA bloc held a ‘Vote Bachao Desh Bachao’ protest at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1 demanding accountability from electoral authorities.
Shah responded that the BJP was ready to hold discussions on SIR in Parliament too. He said government was ready to call a special session for discussion of the issue and asked opposition parties to take part in a responsible debate.
The BJP says identifying infiltrators from electoral rolls and removing them is an integral part of protecting the electoral process. Opposition parties have, however, continued to question implementation and transparency of revision exercise.
Political Debate Intensifies
The Karnal march was followed by Shah’s participation in a similar ‘Loktantra Bachao’ programme in Hyderabad earlier this week. These are part of the BJP’s larger strategy to counter the opposition campaign on electoral issues.
Both the BJP and INDIA bloc will continue to put forward competing positions on voter-list revisions and democratic institutions so the debate over electoral transparency is likely to remain an important political one.
Comments