Jaipur, Oct 16 Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s old speeches, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday questioned why calls for a change of government were acceptable before 2014 but democratic protests against the BJP are now being branded as attempts to create anarchy.
The Congress leader, in a post on X, referred to Modi’s speeches on June 6, 2011, and December 20, 2013, alleging that the then Gujarat chief minister had openly advocated confrontation with the Centre and spoken about people becoming increasingly aggressive in their demand for a change of government.
“Those who made such provocative statements against the UPA government are now accusing the opposition and young people of creating anarchy through democratic protests,” he said.
Gehlot accused the BJP of targeting opposition leaders and young people questioning alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
He said seeking a change of government through democratic means was a constitutional right and could not be termed a conspiracy.
Referring to the anti-corruption movements led by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev before 2014, Gehlot questioned why protests against the UPA government were considered democratic while similar demonstrations against the present government were being branded anarchic.
The Congress leader also alleged that the BJP was evading questions about the Election Commission’s impartiality and the functioning of democratic institutions.
He said young people raising concerns about employment, their future and their rights deserved to be heard rather than accused of spreading unrest.
“Respect for dissent is the very foundation of democracy,” Gehlot said, accusing the ruling party of attempting to silence criticism instead of addressing public concerns.
(PTI News)
