Jammu, Dec 14: Senior BJP leader and former Health Minister Bali Bhagat on Sunday accused the Congress of using its Delhi rally as a political cover to shield illegal infiltrators, asserting that the protest had little to do with electoral reforms and was intended to create public confusion.
In a statement issued here, Bhagat alleged that the rally was aimed at protecting ghuspaithiyas, including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, while questioning the integrity of the Special Intensive Revision process. He said the Congress chose to mobilise on the streets despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah having addressed and rebutted the Opposition’s allegations during a detailed parliamentary debate.
Bhagat accused the Congress of repeatedly casting aspersions on constitutional institutions to evade accountability after electoral defeats. He said the party had earlier targeted electronic voting machines and was now questioning voter list revisions, describing this approach as an attempt to deflect blame rather than accept public verdicts.
Defending the SIR exercise, the BJP leader cited Bihar as an example where the revision was carried out within the legal framework to cleanse electoral rolls. He said the process had public backing and was followed by high voter turnout, which, according to him, disproved claims of manipulation.
Challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Bhagat said any allegation of electoral irregularity should be tested through legal channels. He urged Gandhi to approach the courts if he believed there were violations in the Bihar Assembly elections instead of organising rallies.
Bhagat also took serious note of a video purportedly showing a Congress leader issuing threats against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it indicative of a troubling political mindset. He claimed the rally amounted to an attack on constitutional norms driven by dynastic interests.
Questioning the Congress’ claims of large attendance, Bhagat said the choice of Ramlila Maidan, with limited capacity, undermined assertions of mass public support. He concluded that the Congress would fail in its attempt to discredit democratic institutions, asserting that India’s electoral system remained resilient.
