“Learn from Modi Ji. Learn from BJP workers, who selflessly and continuously work not for themselves, but for society and the country,” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, as he hit out at the Congress over the INDIA bloc’s march to the Election Commission headquarters in New Delhi.
Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of repeatedly targeting constitutional institutions and described their campaign against the Election Commission and the Supreme Court as a “daily drama”. He said such attacks would neither benefit democracy nor help the Congress regain public support.
His remarks came after Rahul Gandhi led Opposition MPs in a march towards the Election Commission, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls. The march was stopped by security personnel, with several Opposition leaders later detained. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises after being prevented from proceeding towards the poll panel’s office.
Speaking to reporters, Rijiju said the Congress should stop attacking the Election Commission and the Supreme Court and instead focus on serving people to win their mandate. He accused the party of turning against constitutional institutions whenever electoral outcomes went against it.
Rijiju also referred to the Congress's record in government, including the Emergency, while questioning its claims of defending democracy. He said the party had ruled the country for decades and accused it of now questioning institutions that were part of the constitutional system.
The Union minister further urged Rahul Gandhi and the Congress not to promote what he described as “anti-India” narratives allegedly pushed by foreign entities. He said political parties should build a grassroots connection with voters rather than rely on social media campaigns.
Rijiju also argued that political success could no longer be assumed on the basis of family background. He said the country had changed and that simply being born into a particular political family would not guarantee becoming prime minister.
Meanwhile, the Opposition has accused the Election Commission of undermining the electoral process and has demanded Kumar’s resignation. Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition had marched to the poll panel to “save democracy” and alleged that elected representatives were being prevented from meeting the Election Commission.
The march turned tense after security personnel stopped the leaders near NITI Aayog. Several Opposition MPs staged a sit-in, while Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee climbed a police barricade. Some protesters later entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises, leading to further confrontation with security personnel.
The political confrontation comes amid an ongoing dispute over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and allegations concerning changes to Form 6. The Election Commission has rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegations as misleading and said the SIR process was approved unanimously. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has said it did not approve any modification to Form 6 and indicated that it would examine the relevant records.
(With agency inputs from ANI)
