New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Wednesday accused the INDIA bloc of “spreading anarchy” by not trusting the Constitutional institutions, while referring to the Opposition alliance’s protests in Delhi last month against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
Addressing the ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ rally in Delhi, Meghwal said: “I will mention three or four incidents that took place in Delhi on October 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.”
He recalled that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with other INDIA bloc leaders, wanted to meet the Chief Election Commissioner.
“The Chief Election Commissioner asked them to provide the names of the members of their delegation, saying that he would meet them. However, they did not submit the names of the delegation and instead gathered at Akashvani Bhawan. This was the first instance of spreading anarchy,” he remarked.
Questioning the Congress, the Law Minister asked: “During your regime, did 300 MPs or ex-MPs ever meet the CEC together? This means they were willing to spread anarchy.”
Adding to the criticism, Meghwal said that the INDIA bloc leaders marching to the Rashtrapati Bhawan in October to meet President Droupadi Murmu were “peak anarchy”.
“President Murmu also asked them to submit proof (of electoral irregularities), but they have not done so so far,” he said.
The Law Minister also cited Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s refusal to meet the INDIA bloc leaders, a day before the Opposition alliance’s scheduled march to the Supreme Court.
The CJI was learnt to have said that the court has no authority to meet a delegation of any political party at the administrative level in this way, and its power is, in fact, to hear the petition and give a verdict. He had reportedly added that the issues they plan to raise are already sub judice, being heard in the Supreme Court.
However, CJI Surya Kant had also said the doors of the Supreme Court, as the top judicial body, are “open 24 hours a day for all”, and it is “committed to protecting the fundamental rights of every citizen”.
Referring to the CJI’s response, Meghwal said: “So, this was again an attempt (by the INDIA bloc) to spread anarchy.”
Later, speaking to IANS during the protest rally, the Union Minister said: “We are taking out this march under the ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ campaign because in October, Congress and its allies marched to the Akashvani complex, then to Rashtrapati Bhavan, and later to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had to say that no one can threaten it.”
“Their leaders then spoke about bringing regime change. They are spreading anarchy by not placing trust in constitutional institutions,” he alleged.
Arjun Ram Meghwal was joined by Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, state BJP president Harsh Malhotra and other party leaders during the rally.
–IANS
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