BJP discredits opposition for raising questions on Election Commission: Ashok Gehlot

Congress President Ashok Gehlot protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over irregularities in special intensive revision. File | Photo credit: PTI

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday (October 10, 2026) accused the BJP of trying to discredit the opposition for raising questions about the Election Commission.

He condemned BJP national president Nitin Nabin’s remarks about dealing tough with protesters and alleged that the BJP and RSS were portraying the opposition protests as attempts to destabilize the country.

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Mr. Gehlot alleged that Mr. Nabin, instead of answering the questions raised by the opposition on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, acted as a lawyer for the Election Commission.

“Shattered by the questions, BJP National President Shri Nitin Nabin now has to act as Election Commission’s lawyer,” Mr Gehlot said in a post on X.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Gehlot asked Mr. Gehlot. Nabin’s remarks on the severe treatment of these protests.

“Get tough with whom? The people of this country? Is it appropriate to use such language against people protesting in a democracy? Is it right to threaten them?” he asked.

Condemning the language used by the BJP president, Mr Gehlot claimed that he could not have made such remarks without instructions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“When the president of the ruling party uses language as if he is a minister or home minister, it means he has received instructions from the government on what to say in a press conference,” Gehlot said.

The Congress leader said the BJP itself had organized street protests when it was in opposition, but the Congress had never accused it of acting at the behest of foreign forces.

“We have always respected the opposition. But look at the attitude of the BJP, the RSS and the Election Commission,” he said.

Claiming that the SIR exercise was conducted with the participation of all three, Mr Gehlot alleged that there was no response to questions about erasure of votes.

“That’s why Nitin Nabin has to come to their defense and started leveling allegations against the opposition,” he said.

Earlier, in his post on X, Mr Gehlot had alleged that the BJP and the RSS did not believe in democracy and were portraying opposition protests as attempts to destabilize the country.

“The BJP itself took to the streets when it was in opposition. Which foreign forces were involved then and which now?” he asked.

Mr. Gehlot said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had undertaken the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to unite the country and it was shameful that the BJP was questioning his intentions.

He alleged that Mr. Gandhi was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was denied an opportunity to speak in the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Gehlot also accused the government of preventing opposition MPs from marching to the Election Commission and Jantar Mantar.

He claimed that Delhi had turned into a fortress, with 75 trains cancelled, entry gates at 57 metro stations closed, internet services suspended in large parts of New Delhi and even school exams cancelled.

The former chief minister alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were avoiding questions raised by the opposition.

“When the opposition is branded ‘Urban Naxals’ or accused of acting on the behest of a ‘foreign power’ every time it raises a question, it is clear that the government has run out of answers to people’s concerns,” he said.

Mr Gehlot also accused the BJP-led central government of bowing to foreign pressure, citing US President Donald Trump’s statement, tariffs on India and visa policy.

“In a democracy, asking questions and holding protests are fundamental rights of the opposition, not crimes,” he said.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 21:16 IST