MUMBAI: In the fourth ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakata Hatao (Save Democracy, End Anarchy)’ rally, held on Monday by the state’s ruling parties from Shivaji Park to Elphinstone Road, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that that the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies were attempting to change the Constitution, and the BJP would not allow this to happen “till the last drop of blood left in their body”.
Appropriating the Opposition’s claim of the Constitution and democracy being under threat from the BJP/NDA, Fadnavis declared that these were in fact under threat from the Opposition, and the ruling Mahayuti and NDA had taken to the streets to protect them.
“Their fight is not against the BJP, NDA or the government but against the Constitution itself,” he claimed. “We will continue fighting until the agenda of regime change, changing the Constitution and undermining democracy is defeated.”
“Regime change means changing all constitutional institutions, including the RBI, Election Commission of India (ECI) and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Fadnavis also hit out at former PM Indira Gandhi, saying that she had curtailed the powers of the high courts and the Supreme Court to review government decisions with the 42nd Constitutional Amendment. “Displaying Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution in one hand while discrediting the institutions created under the same Constitution on the other is a deliberate strategy and a conspiracy to destroy the Constitution. At least Indira Gandhi was a leader. Who is Rahul Gandhi to make such claims? The Monday rally was held at Kamgar Krida Mandal in Parel (Elphinstone Road). Besides Fadnavis, the participants included RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale, Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan, Mumbai BJP leaders Ashish Shelar and Ameet Satam, and former union minister Anurag Thakur.
The last of the such rallies will be held in Nagpur on October 5, with Fadnavis, Nitin Gadkari and other BJP leaders in attendance.
Fadnavis’ tack in the Mumbai rally hinged on a semantic point: the definition of “regime change”, which, according to him, implies overturning all institutions. “Please understand that Rahul Gandhi and his alliance partners are not talking about changing the government; they are talking about regime change,” he said. “Her grandson Rahul Gandhi is repeating history,” he said.
In a reference to neighbouring Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh, where people’s movements recently overthrew governments, Fadnavis alleged that the Opposition bloc was “receiving support from foreign countries”. “The same plan is being pursued for India,” he said. “The ‘red book’ that Rahul Gandhi and other leaders have been displaying is the same one that has created political anarchy in neighbouring countries and even in France and Denmark.”
