#SpeakUpForDemocracy: Congress launches nationwide digital campaign

After accusing the BJP and its leaders, including Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, of conspiring to topple the Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan, the Congress on Sunday (July 26) launched a nationwide digital campaign, “#SpeakUpForDemocracy”, to hit out at the BJP for its “attempts to violate constitutional and democratic traditions”.

“The Congress government in Rajasthan is trying its best to control the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also been appreciated globally. At such a time, the BJP is trying to destabilise the elected government in the state,” said Avinash Pande, Congress general secretary and the party’s Rajasthan in-charge.

“The Congress government is working effectively to battle against the pandemic. Even the prime minister has lauded its efforts. Then why is the BJP working towards bringing down the government? I want to say that democracy will win and the BJP”s conspiracy will fail,” Govind Singh Dotasara, president of the state unit of Congress.

Congress’s chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, who is camping in Jaipur with party leaders, said, “The BJP’s conspiracy to kill democracy in broad daylight in Madhya Pradesh and now in Rajasthan has been exposed. Is democracy a slave of the Delhi Durbar? Is the majority a puppet in Delhi”s hands? Doesn’t the rule of vote matter? If not, then raise your voice.”

Reacting to the allegations, state BJP president Satish Poonia used a Hindi proverb to take a dig at the Congress — a cat going on a pilgrimage after eating 900 mice. “The Congress is responsible for the political crisis in Rajasthan. It violated democratic values and insulted the Constitution for years. Will old sins be washed away through this hypocrisy?” he asked.

On Saturday (July 25) night, Gehlot sent a revised proposal to Governor Kalraj Mishra, requesting that a session of the assembly be called on July 31, Raj Bhawan sources said. Mishra had sought clarifications on six points from the state government after Congress MLAs held a five-hour dharna on the lawns of the Raj Bhawan pressing for a Vidhan Sabha session.

The Congress government in Rajasthan, led by Gehlot, is facing a threat after former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot rebelled against the party. Also, 18 other MLAs have defied the party whip to attend CLP meetings. Including the 19 dissidents, the Congress has 107 MLAs in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly and the BJP 72.

(With inputs from agencies)