Congress Protest Against EC a Political Gimmick, Says Rajasthan BJP Chief Madan Rathore

Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore on Thursday criticised the Congress' protest against the Election Commission in Delhi, calling it a political exercise to attract media attention rather than address grievances through established procedures.

Rathore said that if the Congress had concerns about the Election Commission, its leaders should have sought an appointment and met the poll panel with a delegation. He said a prescribed process existed for raising complaints and that a delegation of five to seven representatives could present its concerns before the Commission.

Instead, he alleged, the Congress chose to organise a protest involving hundreds of people despite knowing such an approach would not produce any outcome.

"Instead, staging a protest with 300-400 people is nothing more than a political gimmick and an attempt to garner media attention," Rathore said.

He claimed that the protest would neither result in action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar nor affect the electoral process. According to Rathore, the Congress was seeking to portray itself as an active Opposition party through such demonstrations.

The Rajasthan BJP chief further alleged that the protests were aimed at creating confusion among the public and provoking people. He urged Congress leaders to have faith in democratic and constitutional institutions and raise their concerns through established mechanisms.

Rathore also criticised Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his conduct during the protest, particularly his interaction with a woman police officer. He said the media should condemn what he described as inappropriate behaviour.

Rathore specifically questioned Gandhi's act of placing a hand on the back of the female police officer and said leaders holding public office were expected to maintain dignity and decorum. His comments were directed at Gandhi and reflected his political criticism of the Congress leader.

Addressing Congress claims of unity, Rathore said repeated assertions that the party was united suggested that there were internal differences. He alleged that Congress leaders were coming together mainly for photographs and said genuine unity did not require repeated public demonstrations.

He said the statements and activities of Congress leaders were revealing what he described as the actual situation within the party.

Rathore also referred to an incident involving Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Sachin Pilot. He claimed that Randhawa had asked Pilot to make a statement and that, after Pilot declined, there was discussion about bringing him in forcibly. Rathore questioned whether senior Congress leaders were being treated without adequate respect and autonomy.

The BJP leader also alleged efforts to create instability in India and claimed, without providing evidence, that a foreign conspiracy could be behind such attempts, with some domestic political leaders allegedly acting at the behest of foreign powers.

He urged people to remain vigilant against what he described as attempts to affect India's unity, integrity and democratic institutions.