Congress has throttled democracy in last 70 years, says Parnami

After the Congress accused the BJP of murdering democracy in Karnataka, outgoing BJP president Ashok Parnami on Friday said the Congress has throttled democracy in the country in the last 70 years.

Reacting to Congress allegation, Parnami said, “Congress should look inward. They have continuously murdered democracy in the last 70 years. How can they now talk of protecting democracy?” He also said that the BJP is a democratic party and believes in a democratic setup. “In Karnataka, it was the prerogative of the governor to decide which party was to be invited to form the government.”

He was addressing the media after participating in a workshop on booth formation that was inaugurated by chief minister Vasundhara Raje. BJP organisational general secretary Chandrashekhar, state party general secretary Bhajanlal and state party secretary Mukesh Dadhich were present as were the district party in-charges.

Parnami claimed that the BJP would be able to form the government in Karnataka with 112 MLAs. The Supreme Court has given time till 4 pm on Saturday to the BJP.

Parnami said the Supreme Court has given its ruling in the matter and Congress should not resort to petty politics. “Congress should have faith in democracy and the governor. Why did they approach the Supreme Court, and if they have gone to court then they should abide by its order and wait for the floor test.”

On National Unionist Zamindara Party MLA Sonadevi Bawri joining the Congress, he said, “She had started supporting Congress long back. In the Rajya Sabha elections, she had voted for the Congress candidate.”

She was clearly told that if she had voted for the Congress then the BJP would not give her the party ticket to contest the assembly elections, said Parnami.

He said those who believe in the BJP’s ideology are welcome to join the party. He said the party does not believe in caste politics but in ‘Sab Ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas’.

On the tiff between BJP MLAs Prahlad Gunjal and Chandrakanta Meghwal, Parnami said “Which family doesn’t have tiffs. BJP is a large family, if there is a spat, we will resolve it.” At a party meeting in Kota on Saturday, Gunjal and Meghwal got into a verbal spat and Gunjal had allegedly used abusive language against Meghwal.

Asked about the Gurjars threatening a fresh agitation over reservation, Parnami said the issue would be resolved. “The Gurjars have supported the BJP in the past and are still with the party. It is the BJP which has resolved their demand and so they support the party.”

On the formation of booths, Parnami said the BJP in the last 18 months has formed 51,227 booths in the state which will now be verified. “The workers will visit the booths and gather feedback on the situation of booths. One senior party worker will carry out verification of booths in five mandals.”

Addressing BJP organizational general secretary Chandrashekhar said BJP has spread because of its workers. It has become the world’s largest political party due to the hard work by the workers.

“The workers have to strengthen the party at booth level to counter the illusion and negative environment spread by the Congress and other opposition parties.