NEW DELHI: BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of acting at the behest of foreign powers, alleging that the opposition was attempting to create instability and challenge an elected government under the pretext of defending democracy.
Addressing the BJP's 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) march in Haryana ’s Rohtak, Nabin said the party's campaign was aimed at countering what he described as a deliberate attempt to spread chaos across the country. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary was also present on the stage.
“As we participate in this 'Save Democracy' march, we must address the atmosphere of chaos and instability that is being deliberately spread throughout the nation,” Nabin said. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi was working to further the agendas of foreign powers and seeking to challenge India's democratic system at their direction.
“They are the same purveyors of chaos who have recently been sowing discord abroad. Their associates, members of the Communist Party and certain Congress leaders, talk about 'changing the regime.' But this is a government formed by the mandate of the people; no one can even lay a finger on it,” he said.
Nabin also questioned the Congress's criticism of electoral outcomes, arguing that the party accepted democratic mandates when it won elections but raised concerns over the electoral process when it lost.
“You (Congress) have no faith in the country’s 1.4 billion people. In whom, then, do you place your trust? In 3 crore infiltrators! I ask you, Rahul Gandhi: what exactly is your intention? Why do you challenge democracy?” he said.
Citing electoral outcomes in different states, Nabin said the Congress described democracy as having prevailed when it won in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, but claimed it was under threat after losing in Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. He further accused the Congress of seeking to run the country according to the wishes of the Gandhi family, saying that governance should instead be guided by the Constitution.
Nabin challenges opposition on voter deletion claims
BJP president also targeted the Congress over its allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls and criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI). Referring to the 1975 Allahabad High Court judgment that set aside then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's election from Rae Bareli, Nabin accused the Congress of having a history of misusing government machinery during elections.
“When Indira Gandhi won an election, the Allahabad High Court ruled that she had won by misusing the entire govt machinery and employing improper means. Her election was completely annulled, and she was barred from contesting elections for six years,” he said.
He also challenged Rahul Gandhi's claims regarding the deletion of 13 crore votes, saying the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners were prepared to provide details of the deletions.
“Today, they claim that 13 crore votes have been deleted. I say to you, Rahul Gandhi, that any worker from our party, the NDA, or even one of our local unit presidents can provide a detailed account for every single one of those 13 crore deleted votes,” Nabin said. He added that the BJP was willing to discuss the issue either in public or in Parliament.
Nabin also accused the Congress of seeking to protect infiltrators and said BJP and NDA workers would work to ensure their removal from the country.
BJP leader raises 1984 anti-Sikh riots, targets Gandhi family
Nabin also criticised the Congress over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, arguing that the party should have apologised for the violence instead of taking part in protests on the issue of electoral integrity. He referred to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's remark after the assassination of Indira Gandhi that “when a big tree falls, the earth shakes”, saying it should have prompted remorse from the Congress leadership.
“When our Sikh brethren were being slaughtered, when a full-scale massacre was unfolding, your father remarked that 'when a big tree falls, the earth shakes.' Because of that 'shaking of the earth,' the lives of so many of my Sikh brothers were extinguished. You should have felt remorse for this; you should have apologised,” he said.
The BJP president also accused the Congress of practising dynastic politics and alleged that its leaders followed the directions of the Gandhi family rather than democratic principles.
His remarks came as the INDIA bloc held its 'Chalo Dilli' march from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction to Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday. The opposition alliance is protesting against alleged irregularities in electoral rolls during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had alleged that shops in Connaught Place were forcibly shut ahead of the march, causing losses to local traders. In a post on X, he said the opposition had encouraged rally participants to shop in the area but found commercial establishments closed. The BJP also organised a separate march in West Delhi to remember the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, accusing the Congress of holding its political rally on the anniversary of the violence.
