Guwahati, Oct 12: The Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise peaceful rallies at district headquarters across the state against what it alleges are the Congress’s attempts to “blackmail constitutional institutions”.
Announcing the programme on Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of undermining India’s democratic institutions and questioning electoral outcomes when they do not favour the party.
In a social media post, Sarma said the rallies would continue until October 31 and seek to alert people to what he described as the Congress’s attempts to pressure constitutional institutions, shield illegal infiltrators by opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and undermine the people’s electoral mandate.
“Their double standard is plain to see,” Sarma said, alleging that the Congress questioned Narendra Modi’s election as Prime Minister, while accepting Rahul Gandhi’s election to Parliament and his subsequent elevation as Leader of the Opposition.
“When Assam votes, the result is unacceptable, when Kerala votes, it is welcomed. Democracy, for the Congress, is valid only when it delivers victory for the Congress,” he said.
Sarma also criticised the INDIA bloc’s proposed march to the Supreme Court after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declined a request for a meeting with Opposition leaders.
“Constitutional institutions cannot be made answerable to a party’s electoral frustrations,” Sarma said, accusing Gandhi of attempting to exert political pressure on the judiciary.
“The people’s mandate deserves respect. Our institutions deserve independence. Neither can be held hostage to political convenience,” he added.
Sarma said the rallies would also reaffirm the BJP’s support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The INDIA bloc had called for a march to the Supreme Court on Monday to submit a memorandum to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant amid protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
However, the CJI declined a request from the Opposition ahead of the proposed march.
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge had sought an appointment between 4 pm and 5 pm to hand over the memorandum.
Their demands included an end to alleged “vote chori”, the CEC’s resignation, a halt to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a return to paper ballots.
Meanwhile, Delhi remains on high alert for the third consecutive day on Monday, with more than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the capital ahead of the Opposition’s proposed march.