Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday criticised the INDIA bloc’s march to the Supreme Court, alleging that the Opposition’s demonstration was an attempt to pressurise the judiciary and create instability in the country.
Addressing a press conference, the Shiv Sena leader demanded an apology from Opposition leaders, describing their march to file a petition over alleged electoral irregularities as an unprecedented attack on the apex court and a black day in Indian history.
The Opposition on Monday organised a “March for Democracy” towards the Supreme Court to file a joint petition challenging aspects of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
Shinde calls march an attempt to pressure judiciary
“It was a black Day in Indian history. The morcha to the Supreme Court was an attempt to pressurise the judiciary. This has happened for the first time in the country,” Shinde said.
He acknowledged that the Opposition had the right to approach the court for justice but argued that taking out a march to submit a petition amounted to an attack on the judiciary.
“I condemn it. They have to apologise to 140 crore people,” he said.
The INDIA bloc has maintained that its campaign seeks accountability over the Election Commission’s functioning and alleged electoral irregularities.
Shinde criticises Rahul Gandhi’s ‘tandav’ remark
Shinde also objected to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks during Monday’s protest. Gandhi had urged people to continue demonstrating, saying the country could not be saved in a day or two, and described the protests as “tandav”.
“This is like Shiva’s dance, and anyone can join Shiva’s ‘baraat’ (wedding procession),” Gandhi had said.
Shinde claimed that invoking Shiva’s dance in this context was an insult to the deity. He also remarked that if Shiva opened his third eye, the INDIA bloc would be destroyed.
Deputy CM accuses Opposition of creating instability
Shinde alleged that the Opposition’s main objective was to spread confusion and obstruct the country’s development.
“The Opposition is frustrated. They don’t know what to do. It is a single-point agenda to create confusion and instability, and cause hindrance in the country’s development,” he said.
He further claimed that foreign powers were attempting to destabilise India and accused Opposition leaders of citing examples of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, where unrest had led to changes in government, to suggest that a similar situation could emerge in India.
Shinde questions Opposition’s stance on EVMs
The deputy chief minister said the Opposition had been defeated in three successive electoral contests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that it was now trying to create unrest by questioning electronic voting machines (EVMs) and making accusations against the Election Commission.
He also accused Opposition parties of double standards, arguing that they had not raised similar concerns when they won elections in Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The Opposition, meanwhile, has sought scrutiny of the Election Commission’s electoral-roll revision process and raised concerns over alleged irregularities.
(With inputs from PTI)
