Hyderabad: The Telangana BJP has questioned whether the Congress-led Opposition is attempting to replicate in Bharat the kind of street-driven political instability witnessed in neighbouring Bangladesh, by seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar through protests outside constitutional institutions.
In a strongly worded statement, BJP Chief Spokesperson and Media In-charge N. V. Subash alleged that the Congress was increasingly choosing the streets over Parliament to pursue political disagreements and was attempting to turn an electoral-process controversy into a campaign against the Election Commission.
Subash drew a parallel between the present protests and the political upheaval witnessed in Bangladesh, while referring to statements made by Congress leaders in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He also referred to earlier remarks by senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid concerning the possibility of Bangladesh-like street protests against the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government.
“After earlier attempts to mobilise street protests over issues such as the farm laws and the CAA, the Congress now appears to have shifted its focus to the Election Commission. Instead of using Parliament and established constitutional mechanisms to raise its concerns, the Opposition is taking political disputes to the streets,” Subash said.
His remarks came after Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi, staged protests in New Delhi demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs were detained during the protests on October 6 and 7.
Subash alleged that the campaign against the Election Commission was being politically amplified despite the matter being before the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court has sought the relevant records and is examining the issue. The appropriate course is to allow the judicial process to take its course rather than attempt to create a political verdict on the streets,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding Form 6 during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Subash said the Congress and its allies were presenting the Supreme Court’s observations selectively. The Court has clarified that it did not approve a modified version of Form 6 and has sought records to determine what changes, if any, were made and by whom. At the same time, the Election Commission has disputed the allegation that the statutory Form 6 itself was altered.
“If the Supreme Court itself is examining the records, why is the Congress attempting to pronounce the CEC guilty before the judicial process is completed? Let the documents speak and let the Court decide,” Subash said.
He questioned whether the Congress and its allies would publicly apologise if the Supreme Court ultimately finds that the CEC did not commit the wrongdoing being alleged against him.
“Will the Congress and its allies accept the verdict if it goes against their allegations? Or will they then question the judiciary as well?” he asked.
Subash further alleged that the Opposition’s street mobilisation was also aimed at generating political and media attention.
“Constitutional institutions cannot be reduced to political battlegrounds every time an Opposition party disagrees with a decision or process. Parliament exists to debate, constitutional authorities exist to discharge their mandates and the judiciary exists to adjudicate disputes. Taking every disagreement to the streets risks undermining public confidence in these institutions,” he said.
He also criticised sections of the media which, according to him, were giving disproportionate political space to the protests.
“The people of Bharat are capable of examining competing claims for themselves. Political slogans, street theatrics and repeated allegations cannot substitute for documentary evidence or judicial findings,” Subash said.
The BJP spokesperson maintained that if the Congress has evidence of wrongdoing, it should place that evidence before the appropriate constitutional forum and allow the process to establish the facts.
“The question before the Congress is simple: will it respect the constitutional process if the final findings do not support its allegations? The country is watching,” Subash said.
