Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 16: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of portraying the demand for a change of government through elections as “anti-national and anarchic” out of fear of losing power.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Khera, chairman of the party’s Media and Publicity Department, said anger among the youth and the general public was evident on the streets across the country, making the ruling dispensation nervous.

His remarks came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticised the Congress and its allies, alleging that they were attempting to bring about a Bangladesh-style regime change by inciting anarchy.

Khera asserted that changing a government through elections was an integral part of democracy. He said the Opposition’s objective was to defeat the ruling government through the electoral process and bring about a change in power, not through anarchic means.

“BJP, rattled by the fear of losing power, is characterising this democratic opposition as anti-national,” he claimed.

Khera further said that questions over alleged electoral irregularities were being raised not only by Opposition parties but also by the public at large.

“Whenever the BJP faces such questions — a natural part of democracy — they perceive this very democracy as treason,” he said.

Responding to remarks by Rajnath Singh and other BJP leaders, the Congress leader claimed that the Modi government’s narrative was weakening and that its statements stemmed from the fear of losing power.

“Have you ever seen an opposition take to the streets to protest in support of the government?” he asked the Union Minister.

Citing examples of political changes over the years, Khera reiterated that replacing a government through elections was a standard democratic practice.

He also played an old video of a speech by Narendra Modi delivered before 2014, in which the then BJP leader allegedly spoke of “uprooting” the government at the Centre. Khera recalled that during the protests against the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2012-13, the BJP had extended its support to the demonstrations.

Targeting the BJP for defending the Election Commission, Khera said the party rallied behind Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar whenever questions were raised about him. He questioned why the Modi government was unwilling to remove Kumar from his position.

Khera also alleged that since the BJP came to power, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had effectively “RSS-ified” the country by placing its own people in various institutions.

He asserted that the Congress was committed to changing the government and expressed confidence that a regime change would take place through democratic means.

Responding to a question about reports claiming that the Supreme Court had reprimanded Rahul Gandhi, Khera said the Court’s observations had actually been directed at another petitioner.

He also accused the BJP of holding a press conference without properly verifying the Chief Justice’s remarks and spreading false information about Rahul Gandhi.