Himachal BJP President Bindal attacks Crongress, announces 4 "Save Democracy" marches

Addressing a press conference in Shimla and later speaking to ANI, Bindal alleged that the Congress, having repeatedly suffered electoral defeats, was attempting to create an atmosphere of anarchy in the country and undermine democratically elected governments through unconstitutional means.

He said the BJP would organise awareness marches in Dharamshala, Shimla, Mandi and Hamirpur to expose what he described as the Congress's anti-national policies, alleged attempts to destabilise the government and support for infiltrators at the cost of the rights of Indian citizens.

"Congress is a party without ideology, without introspection and without leadership. It has lost its direction and, in its desperation, wants to turn India into Bangladesh. The party wants to bring about regime change without elections by creating anarchy and tearing apart the Constitution," Bindal alleged.

He said the proposed marches were aimed at creating awareness among people about the importance of democracy, constitutional institutions and the need to reject attempts to replace democratic processes with mob-based politics.

Announcing the four marches, Bindal said the first rally would be held in Dharamshala on October 30 under the leadership of BJP MP Rajeev Bhardwaj and former Assembly Speaker Vipin Parmar.

The second march would be held in Shimla on November 1, beginning from the Old Bus Stand and culminating at the Chakkar ground.

Bindal said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma would lead the Shimla march, while Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, former Union minister Anurag Thakur, Bindal himself and other BJP leaders from the Shimla parliamentary constituency would participate.

The third march would be held in Mandi on November 4 under the leadership of former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, with former minister Suresh Bhardwaj coordinating the programme. BJP legislators and other leaders from the Mandi parliamentary constituency would participate.

Former Union minister Anurag Thakur, former BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti, party legislators and other leaders would participate, while Randhir Sharma would coordinate the programme.

Bindal said the marches were part of a broader campaign to sensitise people about what the BJP described as the Congress's attempts to weaken constitutional institutions and destabilise the Union government.

Bindal accused the Congress of having a history of weakening constitutional institutions and destabilising elected governments, arguing that the party's present criticism of the BJP was inconsistent with its record.

He referred to the political developments in Jammu and Kashmir, the Emergency imposed in 1975 and the dismissal of elected state governments during Congress rule.

"Congress has always tried to undermine the Constitution. The party talks about the Constitution today, but its own history shows how it has repeatedly violated constitutional principles," he alleged.

Referring to the Emergency imposed by former prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975, Bindal said the country had witnessed the suspension of democratic rights and changes to the Constitution during that period.

He alleged that Congress governments had destabilised several elected governments in the past and cited the political instability involving former prime ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh, Chandra Shekhar and I.K. Gujral.

Bindal said the political instability of that period had adversely affected the country's economy and contributed to the circumstances in which India had to pledge gold.

He alleged that the Congress was now using the Constitution as a political instrument while attempting to weaken institutions through protests and campaigns against the BJP government.

Bindal alleged that the Congress and the INDIA bloc were increasingly looking towards developments in Bangladesh, Nepal and France for political inspiration instead of accepting India's democratic mandate.

He said the opposition was attempting to create an atmosphere similar to Bangladesh through protests and agitation, with the objective of destabilising the Union government.

"Sometimes Bangladesh becomes their guide, sometimes Nepal and sometimes France. India is the land of patriots, and the people will never allow unconstitutional activities to succeed," he said.

Responding to a question about whether foreign forces were supporting such attempts, Bindal alleged that developments during protests in Delhi over the past three to four months had raised questions about funding and sponsorship.

He claimed that the media had exposed details of financial support and sponsorship behind certain activities and alleged that individuals arriving from abroad were being projected as leaders of national-level movements.

However, he did not provide specific details or evidence to substantiate the allegations of foreign funding.

Bindal said the BJP believed that India's growing strength under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attracted international attention and that the opposition should view the country's progress positively rather than attempt to destabilise the government.

The BJP state president also accused the Congress and the INDIA bloc of protecting infiltrators for electoral gains.

He alleged that the opposition was supporting individuals who had entered the country illegally and that such protection was being extended in the hope of securing votes.

"Congress and the INDIA bloc are protecting infiltrators for the sake of votes. By supporting them, they are attempting to take away the rights of crores of Indian citizens," Bindal alleged.

He said the BJP would expose what he described as the opposition's attempts to protect infiltrators and undermine the rights of Indian citizens.

Bindal also accused Congress leaders of using inappropriate language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said recent remarks by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would further damage the party politically.

Responding to a question on the opposition's allegations that the BJP was attempting to destabilise democratic institutions, Bindal said his party was capable of taking the country forward and had consistently received public support.

He said the BJP had strengthened India economically, strategically and in terms of development and welfare under Modi's leadership.

Bindal alleged that the Congress was attempting to destabilise the Union government because it had repeatedly suffered electoral defeats.

He cited the Congress's poor electoral performance in Bengal, Bihar, Haryana and Delhi and said the party had also suffered setbacks in Himachal Pradesh's local body elections.

He claimed that the Congress had failed to win a single seat in the district council elections in Himachal Pradesh and said the results reflected public dissatisfaction with the state government.

Asked about Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's remarks that the BJP was divided into five factions and that the Congress would return to power in 2027, Bindal dismissed the claims as unrealistic.

He said the Congress leadership was making claims about the next Assembly elections despite what he described as the government's poor performance over the past four years.

"The people of Himachal Pradesh are watching the Congress government's misrule. The election year has already begun, and the public will give its verdict," he said.

Bindal also referred to the recent increase in diesel and petrol-related taxes and alleged that the government was imposing additional financial burdens on people.

He said the BJP's proposed marches were not intended as a mere show of strength but were part of an awareness campaign to protect democracy and constitutional institutions.

Asked about the demand for the formation of a Swarn Commission in Himachal Pradesh and support expressed by some Congress ministers, Bindal said the issue should be discussed within the Congress before the party took a position.

He said society had remained united for centuries and that attempts to create divisions among communities were not in the interest of social harmony.

"All communities and sections of society should live together with social harmony. Creating divisions is not in the interest of society," he said.

Bindal reiterated that the BJP's proposed marches would focus on protecting democracy, opposing alleged mobocracy and creating awareness about what the party described as unconstitutional attempts to destabilise the government.

He said the BJP would continue to raise these issues among the public ahead of the 2027 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. (ANI)