The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on the Congress, demanding a public apology from its top leadership for what it terms "objectionable and indecent" slogans raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a recent opposition rally in the national capital.
Congress Rally Draws Fierce Condemnation
The controversy erupted following the Congress's 'Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod' rally held in Delhi on Monday. Leader of the Opposition in Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur, spearheaded the criticism, alleging that the event featured abusive personal attacks instead of issue-based political discourse.
Jai Ram Thakur, a former Chief Minister, stated that the slogans reflect the Congress party's "political frustration, ideological decline and growing desperation" following a series of electoral setbacks. He argued that such repeated offensive remarks against the Prime Minister demonstrate the opposition's "mental bankruptcy" and its failure to accept the popular mandate given to the BJP-led government.
BJP Leaders Escalate Attack in Parliament
The issue was not confined to political statements outside Parliament. BJP leaders raised the matter in both Houses, pressing for an apology from the Congress leadership, including former party president Sonia Gandhi.
Former BJP state president and MP Suresh Kashyap joined the condemnation, labelling the slogans as "shameful and undemocratic." He asserted that the silence of Congress leaders present at the rally, including Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, amounted to a "tacit support" for the vitriol. Kashyap warned that the people of India would not accept this kind of degrading politics.
Thakur Links Rally to Congress's Broader Decline
Jai Ram Thakur connected the incident to the Congress's dwindling political fortunes. He cited the party's poor performance in states like Bihar, suggesting that the use of similar language there had led to its "political marginalisation."
Thakur also framed the incident as a matter of dignity for Himachal Pradesh, expressing dismay that several senior state Congress leaders attended the rally without objecting to the slogans. He termed their presence a violation of democratic norms and demanded a public apology specifically from these leaders for tarnishing the state's image.
The BJP's coordinated offensive highlights the escalating political tensions as it seeks to frame the Congress as a party resorting to personal attacks amid a crisis of ideology and relevance.
