JP Nadda also accused the Opposition of using the banner of democracy to create unrest in the national capital, disrupt business and tarnish India's image.JP Nadda launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan Union Minister JP Nadda on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, telling him that India was "not a banana republic" where arson, riots and attempts at regime change could be orchestrated at will."Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully. This is India, not a banana republic where you can orchestrate arson, incite riots and run a regime-change agenda whenever you want," Nadda said, accusing the Congress leader of pursuing a politics of disruption and attempting to destabilise an elected government.The Union Minister's remarks came ahead of the INDIA bloc's gathering against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Nadda accused the Opposition of using the banner of democracy to create unrest in the national capital, disrupt business and tarnish India's image.He also accused Rahul Gandhi of insulting India abroad and attacking its democratic institutions and economy after returning to the country. Nadda asserted that India was one of the world's oldest and strongest democracies and would be governed by the Constitution and the people's mandate.
NADDA ACCUSES OPPOSITION OF PLOTTING ANARCHYNadda described the INDIA bloc's gathering as a "thoughtless and carefully orchestrated political drama" by leaders who had been repeatedly rejected by voters. He alleged that the march was part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise an elected government, disrupt Delhi's economy and tarnish India's image."Whatever is happening at Ramlila Maidan today is not respected for democracy, but a well-planned conspiracy to spread anarchy in the name of democracy and leave the country at the mercy of disorder," he said.
Taking direct aim at Rahul Gandhi, Nadda outlined what he described as the Congress leader's model of politics, listing four stages: spreading misinformation and creating a ruckus, triggering disorder and disturbances on the streets, hurting the country's economy, and attempting to destabilise an elected government at the behest of foreign powers.He accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of pursuing an agenda of destruction rather than development, claiming that the Opposition's alleged strategy of creating unrest had been exposed."The people of India are no longer going to fall for this deception. This toolkit of anarchy has now been exposed," Nadda said.Concluding his attack, he said the country would be governed by the Constitution and the people's mandate rather than what he described as the Congress's riot-based politics.
He also claimed that the INDIA bloc's gathering would become the final nail in the coffin of the Congress's political decline.NADDA INVOKES 1984 ANTI-SIKH RIOTSNadda also questioned the Congress's decision to hold the gathering on November 1, the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, accusing the party of being insensitive towards the Sikh community.Describing the riots as one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history, he alleged that Congress-backed goons had massacred innocent Sikhs, leaving thousands of families homeless and thousands of women widowed.He pointed to Delhi's Widow Colony as a reminder of the violence and accused the Gandhi family of never having sincerely apologised to the Sikh community for what he termed the party's historical wrongdoing."Even today, the Widow Colony in Delhi stands as testimony to the horrific and cruel history of Congress. The Gandhi family has not sincerely apologised to the Sikh community for that grave sin," he said.Nadda alleged that Rahul Gandhi had chosen the anniversary of the riots to hold a political gathering and accused him of using the occasion to advance his political interests rather than remember the victims.He also questioned the INDIA bloc's other constituents, asking whether they supported the Congress's decision to hold the rally on a day associated with the suffering of the Sikh community.WAR OF WORDS OVER IMPACT ON DELHI'S TRADERSThe Union Minister also accused the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies of disrupting business in Delhi by organising a large political gathering during the festive season.Referring to Dhanteras, Diwali and Chhath Puja, Nadda said small traders, street vendors and shopkeepers depended on the festive period to earn a substantial part of their annual income.
He alleged that the rally would affect their livelihoods and accused Rahul Gandhi of being indifferent to the financial difficulties faced by small businesses.Citing representations by the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), Nadda said the traders' body had written letters on three occasions, including on Sunday, to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, urging them not to organise large political gatherings in Delhi during the festive season.According to Nadda, previous protests had already caused traders in Delhi losses of around Rs 3,000 crore. He further claimed that the latest political gathering could result in losses exceeding Rs 10,000 crore.He specifically named Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Khari Baoli and Karol Bagh, saying the commercial areas and the rest of central Delhi were home to a large number of small traders who could be affected.His remarks came hours after the Leader of the Opposition urged protesters to do some shopping after taking part in the rally.- Ends