Bhubaneswar: BJP national spokesperson and Puri MP Sambit Patra Thursday accused Opposition leaders of seeking to change the government without contesting elections, alleging that their protests were aimed at capturing power.
Addressing a press conference here, Patra criticised statements by activist Prashant Bhushan, social media commentator Dhruv Rathee and All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora, claiming that their remarks exposed the opposition’s alleged political motives.
“Bhushan himself told the media that their fight is for regime change and they will ensure it. This proves that they are holding protests only for regime change,” Patra said.
He asserted that the country belonged to its 140 crore people and not to any individual or family.
Targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, Patra alleged that the opposition’s objective was not to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) or students’ future, but to bring about a change of government without an electoral mandate.
He also criticised the Congress for failing to change its leadership despite repeated electoral defeats.
“Whether it is Rahul Gandhi or his associates, their intention is regime change. Their fight is not against the SIR or for students’ future. Their sole objective is to orchestrate a regime change, seize power, and install their own government at any cost, without contesting an election because people repeatedly defeated them,” he said.
Calling opposition leaders “deshdrohi” (anti-national), Patra alleged that some of them had aligned themselves with foreign interests for monetary gains.
“Chand paiso ke liye aaj bidesi haath me bik gaye (They sold themselves to foreign hands just for a few pennies),” he said.
Criticising Bora for allegedly expressing gratitude to Bangladesh, the BJP leader claimed that opposition protests had drawn inspiration from developments in the neighbouring country.
“From the very beginning, we have been saying that attempts are being made to create situations like Nepal and Bangladesh in India,” he said.
Patra also accused Opposition leaders of criticising police and armed forces on various occasions, including over the surgical strikes.
“Do you want a Pakistan in India. If you think that Indian police and army will revolt against the government like Pakistan, then you are living in a La-La land. We want to make it clear that India is not a banana republic. How dare you make such statements,” he said.
The BJP leader further described the opposition figures as “agents of foreign interests” and alleged that they were acting at the behest of other countries.
Claiming that the movement had originated at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Patra said it would eventually fade away at the same place.
“India does not exist only within a 2 km radius of Jantar Mantar. It is a vast country,” he said.
Protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar began in Delhi October 2, when opposition leaders, student organisations and activists demonstrated against alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. Police detained several protesters over the next three days as demonstrators attempted to reach Jantar Mantar.
On October 6, INDIA bloc MPs marched towards the Election Commission headquarters demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation but were stopped by police barricades.
The opposition followed this with a series of luncheon meetings and protests, including a march towards Jantar Mantar October 7. October 9, opposition leaders met President Droupadi Murmu to raise concerns over the SIR exercise.
The INDIA bloc parties also staged a march towards the Supreme Court October 12, seeking to raise concerns over the revision exercise with the Chief Justice of India.
