GUWAHATI, OCT 12 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the BJP will hold peaceful rallies in all district headquarters across the state from October 13 to 31 to highlight what he alleged was the Congress’s attempt to blackmail constitutional institutions, shield infiltrators by opposing the SIR of electoral rolls and undermine the people’s democratic mandate.
In a social media post, Sarma accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of seeking to exert political pressure on the Supreme Court by marching to the court despite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant declining to meet the opposition leaders.
Gandhi and the Congress were mounting an attack on the foundations of India’s democracy, he alleged.
“Their double standard is plain to see. When Shri @narendramodi Ji is elected Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi calls it manipulation, yet his own election to Parliament and his subsequent elevation as Leader of the Opposition is beyond question,” Sarma said in a post on X.
“When Assam votes, the result is unacceptable; when Kerala votes, it is welcomed. Democracy, for the Congress, is valid only when it delivers victory for the Congress,” he said.
“Now, by marching to the Supreme Court despite the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India declining a meeting, Rahul Gandhi seeks to turn political pressure on the highest court of our land. Constitutional institutions cannot be made answerable to a party’s electoral frustrations,’’ he said.
“The people of Assam will not stay silent. From tomorrow until 31 October, @BJP4Assam will hold peaceful mass rallies at every district headquarters across the state,’’ he said.
Through these rallies, ‘’we will alert our people to the Congress party’s attempts to blackmail our constitutional institutions, shield infiltrators by opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and undermine the democratic mandate of the people. ‘’At the same time through this programme, we will reaffirm our unwavering support for Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and his vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047’’, he said.
The chief minister said the people’s mandate deserves respect.
‘’Our institutions deserve independence. Neither can be held hostage to political convenience,” Sarma added.
Kharge and Gandhi had written to the CJI on October 10 seeking a meeting with him on October 12 between 4 pm and 5 pm, to submit a memorandum concerning the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission of India; the “arbitrary arrest” of several students; the closure of Metro stations; and the cancellation of trains, among other issues.
The CJI, however, declined to meet the opposition leaders as it would be “incompatible with the established ethics and judicial propriety” as the issues raised by them are sub-judice before the court.
