The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday strongly criticized former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for his statement that Indira Gandhi would have banned the ruling party if she were in power today due to its religious politics. The BJP asserted that Gehlot's comments reflect the authoritarian tendencies of the Congress party rather than the BJP itself.
Gehlot's Statement
Speaking at an event in Jaipur on Monday, Gehlot said, "Had a leader like Indira Gandhi been in power today, she would have banned a party like BJP. You cannot run a political party on the basis of Hindutva and religion. The Constitution does not permit politics in the name of religion."
BJP's Response
The BJP responded sharply, stating that Gehlot's remarks reveal more about the Congress mindset. Amit Malviya, head of BJP's social media cell, said, "If democracy is alive and thriving in India today, it is despite the Congress party's recurring authoritarian impulses, not because of them." He alleged that it is Congress's instinct to silence political opponents, delegitimize views it disagrees with, and weaponize state power against rivals.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla added that Gehlot's comments reflect an "emergency and intolerant" mindset toward Hindutva and Hindus.
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