Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday criticized the BJP, saying former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would have banned a party like the BJP if she were alive today, news agency ANI reported.
“If a leader like Indira Gandhi were alive today, she would have banned a party like the BJP,” he said.
Gehlot had been speaking about the need for opposition unity and called for strengthening India’s alliance, saying its leadership should be given to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“There is a need to strengthen the India alliance… I have also stated that the India alliance should openly give leadership to Rahul Gandhi…”
“The atmosphere in the country today is dangerous.”
The Congress leader also expressed his concern about the current political environment in the country, describing it as “dangerous.”
He said, according to RIA Novosti: “In my life, I have witnessed many situations, but the atmosphere in the country today is dangerous.”
Drawing a comparison with the former Prime Minister’s era, Gehlot added, “At one time, during Indira Gandhi’s era, it was the Congress party versus all the other parties… The ‘Congress hatao, desh bachao’ campaign was launched against Indira Gandhi, but in just two and a half years, the public brought her back to power…”
He further said that once the public realizes the Congress and stands with it, the parties allied with the NDA and the BJP will turn against them.
“When the public realizes – and truly stands with the Congress – the parties currently allied with the NDA and the BJP will turn against the BJP…”
“BJP is weakening the state”
He also criticized the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and accused them of weakening the country by deliberately pushing a religious agenda.
“What is their (BJP) mentality? They are weakening the country by deliberately pushing a religious agenda – targeting Muslims… They are doing this to show the citizens that they are a ‘Hindutva’ party…”
“He rejoined Congress,” says Gehlot.
Earlier, the Congress leader urged all parties that broke away from the Congress to rejoin and accept Rahul “wholeheartedly” as their leader.
“All parties which became regional parties after separating from the Congress should rejoin and should accept Rahul Gandhi as leader wholeheartedly. There should be a message across the country that the leader of the All India Alliance is Rahul Gandhi. This message should be clear. Then the people will make you successful,” he added.
Highlighting the contrast between the BJP and Congress leadership, Gehlot said: “They see Narendra Modi on one side and Rahul Gandhi on the other. If there is a clear message that all political parties have accepted Rahul Gandhi as their leader, you will see that the voting pattern in the country will change.”
(With inputs from ANI)
