Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 22 Jul: BJP today staged a massive protest outside the Congress headquarters in Dehradun against the protest led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi near the Prime Minister’s residence. The protest was led by BJP State President and RS MP Mahendra Bhatt. The BJP alleged that the Congress had endangered the Prime Minister’s security and undermined democratic traditions. Led by Bhatt, thousands of party workers marched to the Congress office and raised slogans, accusing the Congress of misleading the public and indulging in negative politics.
Addressing media-persons during the protest, Bhatt asserted that it was unfortunate that while Parliament, the country’s highest democratic forum for debate and discussion, was in session, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and the entire Opposition were creating disruptions and attempting to incite the youth instead of raising public issues through meaningful discussion in Parliament. He said Rahul Gandhi should have placed the concerns of students before Parliament instead of attempting to mislead them through protests.
Referring to the NEET issue, Bhatt said the examination had already been re-conducted, a large number of students had qualified and the counselling process has also begun. Despite this, he alleged, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress were trying to create political instability by spreading unrest and an atmosphere of anarchy across the country. He asserted that BJP workers would continue to expose what he described as the Congress’ conspiracies and negative politics before the people.
Bhatt said it has become necessary to show the Congress a mirror in a democracy. He alleged that while both Houses of Parliament were functioning, Rahul Gandhi chose to stage a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence instead of participating in parliamentary debate, thereby exposing what he described as his undemocratic mindset and anarchic politics. He claimed that the BJP had acted with patience and responsibility in trying to persuade all the sides, but the Congress’ alleged undemocratic and unconstitutional conduct had made it necessary to respond politically.
The BJP leader further alleged that the Congress is misleading students and spreading falsehood and distrust across the country in the name of the NEET issue. He said the BJP’s nationwide protests in State capitals are aimed at exposing what he termed the Congress’ “black truth” before the people. According to him, party workers, along with members of the BJP Yuva Morcha, has organised demonstrations across the country to counter the Congress campaign.
Bhatt also accused the Congress of violating democratic traditions. He said everyone has the right to express their views in a democracy, but when Parliament is in session, issues should be debated inside the House rather than on the streets. He remarked that if the Leader of the Opposition stages a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence instead of participating in parliamentary proceedings, it reflects a lack of understanding and respect for democratic conventions.
He claimed that as the ruling party and a responsible political organisation, the BJP is fulfilling its duty to safeguard democratic institutions and parliamentary processes. He maintained that Members of Parliament have the right to raise issues within Parliament and alleged that Rahul Gandhi had attempted to create an atmosphere of disorder across the country by avoiding parliamentary debate and staging a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence.
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress over the protest outside the PM’s residence, Bhatt described it as a ‘shameful day’ in the history of Indian democracy. He said a leader belonging to a family with a long political background should have respected the dignity of the Prime Minister’s residence. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi had attempted to stage a sit-in at the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence without permission.
Bhatt further claimed that the Central Government is fully prepared to hold a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament and that Union Ministers had offered Rahul Gandhi an opportunity for debate, which he allegedly declined. He questioned whether the country should function according to the wishes and whims of the Gandhi family and alleged that the protest had violated the Prime Minister’s security protocol. He said the Prime Minister’s security is of the highest priority and maintained that the police were ultimately compelled to take action to preserve law and order.
The protest march began from the BJP’s metropolitan office and proceeded towards the Congress headquarters amid slogans against Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. Police had erected barricades at Kanak Chowk, preventing the march from reaching the Congress office. Despite being stopped, BJP workers maintained restraint on the instructions of the State President and continued their protest at the barricading point with loud sloganeering. They also burnt an effigy symbolising Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
Among those present during the protest were Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, State General Secretary Kundan Parihar, MLAs Vinod Chamoli, Brij Bhushan Gairola, Sahdev Pundir and Savita Kapoor, Jyoti Prasad Gairola, Subhash Bartwal, Madhu Bhatt, Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, State Ministers Aditya Chauhan and Neha Joshi, State Office Secretary Jagmohan Rawat, BJP State Media In-charge Manveer Chauhan, BJP Yuva Morcha State President Vipul Mandoli, BJP Mahila Morcha State President Ruchi Bhatt, Dehradun BJP Mahanagar President Siddharth Agrawal and a large number of senior party leaders and workers.
