BJP MP Criticizes Congress Ahead of “Vote Chori” Protest

Praveen Khandelwal, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has criticized the Congress party as it prepares for a protest rally against alleged ‘vote chori’ scheduled for December 17, 2023, at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Khandelwal dismissed the Congress as a “failed party” led by “unsuccessful leaders” and questioned the purpose of the upcoming demonstration.

The Congress party aims to spotlight what it describes as a “collusion to manipulate elections” involving the central government and the Election Commission of India (ECI). Speaking to IANS, Khandelwal expressed skepticism about the rally’s significance, stating, “They engage in theatrics, and today they are going to stage a very big drama at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.” He further emphasized that the allegations of vote theft have been convincingly countered in Parliament by Amit Shah, the Home Minister.

Khandelwal specifically targeted Rahul Gandhi, questioning the timing of the protest in light of his anticipated foreign trip. “I don’t understand why this drama is necessary,” he remarked. He accused the Congress party, particularly the Gandhi family, of engaging in a style of politics that prioritizes performance over substance.

The upcoming protest will see participation from key Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, the party’s National President, and several prominent figures such as K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Additionally, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar are expected to attend, alongside more than 1,000 Congress workers.

Khandelwal also addressed the Congress party’s objections regarding the proposed renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to the ‘Poojya Bapu Grameen Rozgar Yojna.’ He highlighted that during Congress’s time in power, many institutes were named after leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, while significant figures such as Sardar Patel and Bhagat Singh were overlooked. “I fully support this decision, and it should happen,” he asserted.

Reports indicate that the MGNREGA may be renamed to honor Mahatma Gandhi, with proposals to increase the annual employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days as part of this initiative.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the upcoming protest at Ramlila Maidan promises to highlight ongoing tensions between the BJP and Congress, with both parties positioning themselves for the upcoming electoral challenges.