With the Election Commission announcing the Lok Sabha election schedule, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that democracy and Constitution had come under threat in his regime. “Mr. Modi has failed to maintain the dignity of the office he holds. He is resorting to gimmicks to win the polls,” he said.

Mr. Gehlot said Mr. Modi had not only treated the Opposition with derision during the last five years, but had also undermined the institutions and created an “atmosphere of fear and intimidation” for industrialists, bureaucrats, politicians and media houses. “If all the Opposition parties are feeling like this, there is a substance in it.”

In a series of tweets, Mr. Gehlot said Mr. Modi was trying to create an impression that the Opposition had questioned the valour of Armed Forces after the Pulwama terror attack and the air strikes in Balakot. “Nothing can be farther from truth than this. Congress president Rahul Gandhi was the first to publicly say that the party is with the government,” he said.

“The Prime Minister is trying to divert the attention of voters. We simply asked for clarification in the wake of conflicting claims about casualties in air strikes. We were first told that 350 terrorists had died, then the figure was reduced to 250, followed by claims that the attack was carried out only to show prowess of Indian Air Force. On its part, the Air Force said it was for the government to give the figures,” Mr. Gehlot said.

Mr. Gehlot said the Opposition was within its rights to demand that the questions raised by the foreign media about the Balakot air strikes should be properly dealt with to ensure that India was not defamed in the comity of nations.

“The way Mr. Modi addresses the public and misleads them through the cacophony of words puts him in the role of an actor. He has wasted thousands of crores of rupees in advertisements, publicity and marketing... He would have succeeded immensely as an actor,” Mr. Gehlot said.

Mr. Gehlot took exception to the BJP’s attempts to link nationalism with its Hindutva ideology. “The moment anyone joins the BJP, he becomes a certified nationalist. On the other hand, anyone criticising the government is instantly accused of sedition. Such a trend was never witnessed in the past,” he said.

‘Time for change’

Mr. Gehlot affirmed that the time for change had come and the “popular will of people” would get reflected in the election results. He also alleged that the Prime Minister's Office had exerted pressure on the Election Commission to delay the announcement of election schedule until Mr. Modi's inauguration and stone-laying events were completed.