Show summary Hide summary
Jaipur — At a public event on Sunday, senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot warned that India’s political landscape has become alarmingly polarized, saying that if former prime minister Indira Gandhi were alive today she would have sought to outlaw a party like the BJP. Gehlot described the present moment as the most dangerous in his five-decade political career and urged citizens to recognise what he called an erosion of democratic norms.
Allegations against the ruling party
Speaking at the 607th Yaum-e-Shahadat of Nawab Dada Qaim Khan, Gehlot accused the BJP of building an electoral strategy around religious polarisation rather than inclusive politics. He questioned the party’s claim to national representation by pointing to what he called an absence of minority candidates in crucial state contests.
Gehlot highlighted Uttar Pradesh as an example, noting that, in his view, the BJP had not fielded Muslim candidates across that state’s 403 assembly seats. He suggested this sidelining of minority leaders — naming former BJP figures such as Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain — reflected a broader shift in the party’s approach.
Shah Rukh Khan used the name Abinav to ease in-law worries: Gauri adopted Ayesha during nikaah
Javed Akhtar hails Hindu festivals as cultural glue: throwback of atheist celebrating resurfaces
- Gehlot said India faces an unusually tense political climate after decades in public life.
- He argued that invoking religion as a central campaign theme undermines the Constitution.
- He appealed to voters to recognise long-term consequences, warning future generations could pay the price.
- The remarks were made at an event organised by Rajasthan Waqf Board chairman Khanu Khan Budwali.
Gehlot also suggested that enforcement against religious appeals in elections has weakened over time, contrasting current practice with past legal challenges involving prominent leaders. He framed these changes as part of a drift away from earlier electoral standards.
Immediate implications
The comments are significant because they foreground questions about minority representation and the health of institutions at a time when political identity is a central campaign battleground in several states. Gehlot’s critique is likely to fuel debate between national parties over rhetoric and candidate selection.
There was no immediate response from the BJP to Gehlot’s remarks. The exchange underscores ongoing tensions over how parties balance religious identity, constitutional principles and electoral strategy — issues that continue to shape national and regional contests.
