Patna, Oct 28 Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday led a march in Patna, accusing the Congress-led opposition of spreading a “false narrative” against democratic institutions and asserting that the BJP would counter such attempts.
The ‘Loktantra Bachao – Arajakta Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) march began at Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan and covered around 1 km.
Addressing a gathering before the march, Choudhary alleged that attempts were being made to weaken the BJP-led government at the Centre and promote anarchy and hooliganism across the country.
“However, these efforts are bound to fail as the country’s leadership rests in the able hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah,” he said, adding that the BJP was organising the march as part of a nationwide programme to safeguard democratic institutions.
Choudhary also criticised Congress leaders over alleged objectionable remarks targeting the prime minister.
“They are now openly abusing PM Modi’s mother and father. If it had been a monarchy, they would have landed in jail, but this is a democracy. People, especially the youth, need to know who is saving democracy and who is looting it,” he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had recently triggered a controversy with his remark, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega”, in response to an audience member who said that “the PM will not go anywhere” during an event in Patna.
The remarks drew sharp criticism from the BJP and its allies.
Choudhary alleged that booth capturing and misuse of power were common during earlier Congress-led governments.
He also cited the Emergency imposed by former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 after the Allahabad High Court annulled her election, describing it as a “black chapter” in Indian democracy.
Choudhary further targeted the Congress over its performance in the Bihar Legislative Council elections, saying it failed to win a single seat despite the polls being conducted through ballot papers.
“Rahul Gandhi frequently questions the effectiveness of EVMs and roots for ballot papers. The MLC elections were held through ballot papers, but Congress failed to open its account. Neither are they winning in elections held with EVMs, nor with ballot papers. They should themselves tell PM Modi the mode in which they want the elections to be held,” he said.
Meanwhile, state minister Dilip Jaiswal told PTI Videos that attempts were being made to spread anarchy in connivance with foreign powers.
“We are holding a ‘pratikar padayatra’ (retaliatory march) to send a message to forces desperate for power that the country will operate under a democratic system,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused the BJP of carrying out a “fabricated exercise in the name of democracy” despite allegedly undermining democratic institutions.
“Anyone who joins the BJP is supposedly cleansed of all wrongdoing, while those who do not join it face action by the ED and the CBI,” the RJD leader alleged.
(PTI News)
