‘Anyone can join Shiv ki Baraat’: Rahul Gandhi likens CEC protest to Lord Shiva’s Tandav; BJP hits back | India News
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday likened the ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to “Lord Shiva’s Tandav”, saying the movement did not require a fixed plan and that anyone willing to join the fight to protect the Constitution was welcome.The remarks drew a sharp response from Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who accused the Congress of having no connection with the country’s traditions and faith. “They do not even have the right to invoke the name of Lord Shiva,” he said.Speaking at a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned march to the Supreme Court, Gandhi said the protest would continue in different forms, depending on the circumstances.“My sister tells me that we should make a plan. So I told my sister, ‘You are not understanding the point. This is Tandav. This is Lord Shiva’s dance. There is no planning in this. Today we are going to the Supreme Court; tomorrow it will be something else. What do you think? Did we make a plan at Akashvani Bhavan?“The plan was that we would go by bus, sit there, and get arrested. The police wouldn’t let us go. So we changed the plan. Did the result come from the plan, or did it come from the non-plan? There is no need for any plan. This dance is ongoing. This is Lord Shiva’s dance going on. In this, anyone can join Shiva’s procession (Shiv ki Baraat). Anyone who wants to join, can come,” he said.Gandhi said the demonstrations were aimed at questioning the conduct of the Election Commission and demanding Kumar’s resignation. He claimed that people across the country were raising questions about the chief election commissioner and warned that the agitation would continue.“Why is all this happening? Because we are only asking the question raised by two Election Commissioners: why is Gyanesh Kumar not resigning? These days, we are receiving information from everywhere. Gyanesh Kumar, we know your situation. We know you are unable to sleep at night, and do not worry, we will not spare you. I am telling you directly that you will not escape as Election Commissioner because of what is happening. Lakhs of people are questioning you and your conduct, and they will not stop,” he said.The Congress leader also alleged that questions were being raised within security agencies over the treatment of protesters compared with members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).“Questions are being raised within the police about why they are being asked to stop the youth while RSS members are being allowed to roam freely. These questions are being raised within the Home Ministry, Delhi Police, CRPF and ITBP,” he said.Gandhi urged people from all political parties to join the INDIA bloc’s march at 1.30 pm from Barakhamba Junction in Connaught Place, describing it as a movement to protect the Constitution. He also appealed to those unable to participate directly to express solidarity when the delegation reached the Supreme Court to file its petition.“India is marching; join us today at 1.30 PM at Barakhamba Junction in Connaught Place. If you want to protect the Constitution, anyone from any party can join…If you cannot join us directly for any reason, show your solidarity when we will be in front of the Supreme Court filing the petition,” he said.
BJP attacks Congress over Lord Shiva reference
Responding to Gandhi’s remarks, Chouhan accused the Congress of invoking religious symbolism despite, according to him, being disconnected from India’s cultural traditions.“Look, I have said this before as well: they have nothing to do with the country’s values, traditions or faith. They do not even have the right to invoke the name of Lord Shiva,” Chouhan said.The Union minister also dismissed the Opposition’s protests as an expression of frustration over repeated electoral defeats and accused the Congress of blaming constitutional institutions for its political setbacks.“The reason for Congress’s defeat is not the Election Commission; the reason for Congress’s defeat is Congress’s own idea-less leadership. What is the current state of the Congress? There is infighting in Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab, they have had to change the state president. In different places, there are conflicts over leadership. In Karnataka, sometimes it’s Siddaramaiah, sometimes it’s D.K. Shivakumar. In Telangana, there is internal conflict.
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“Chouhan further accused the Congress of undermining constitutional institutions and cited its record of dismissing elected governments.“What will they talk about the Constitution? They have sinned by changing elected governments more than 90 times,” he said.The INDIA bloc’s planned march comes amid Opposition allegations of electoral irregularities and demands for Kumar’s resignation. The delegation intends to approach the Supreme Court with a petition raising concerns over the Election Commission and the conduct of elections.Security was tightened across central Delhi ahead of the march, with police barricades and deployments of Delhi Police, the Rapid Action Force and the Central Reserve Police Force. Entry and exit at several metro stations were also scheduled to remain closed until 4 pm for security reasons.
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