BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Monday dismissed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as a “hawa hawai leader” and accused him of undermining constitutional institutions and damaging India’s image globally through his actions.
Thakur also accused the Congress of making remarks about Sanatan Dharma when it suited its political interests. “Ali-Ali at night, Bajrang Bali during the day?” he asked.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, the former Union minister described Gandhi as “destabilising, chaotic and unserious”, claiming that the country had never witnessed such “theatrics and tantrums” from a Leader of Opposition.
Targeting Gandhi over his repeated allegations of “vote chori”, Thakur alleged that the Congress leader was challenging the people’s mandate and creating instability and chaos in the country.
“Rahul Gandhi is a ‘hawa hawai’ leader. His entire style of politics follows the same pattern ‘hawa hawai’ — hollow statements, baseless allegations, hollow actions, hollow protests and hollow facts,” he alleged.
Thakur accused Gandhi of repeatedly shifting blame to different institutions, including the Election Commission, electronic voting machines (EVMs) and the Chief Election Commissioner.
“The situation has now deteriorated to the point where Rahul Gandhi is resorting to street-level language and making baseless allegations,” he alleged.
“Rahul ji, the country needs truth, not noise. It needs evidence, not allegations. It needs clear answers, not political statements,” Thakur said.
He claimed that Gandhi had been asked to provide evidence along with his complaint when he approached the President but had remained silent.
The BJP MP further alleged that the Supreme Court had made it clear to Gandhi that he could not turn the court into a battleground for his political campaign.
He also questioned Gandhi’s approach to the judiciary in matters where cases were already pending.
“Now, they will have to be taught how to approach the CJI in a sub judice matter, when a case is already pending,” he said.
Thakur alleged that the Congress and Gandhi were attempting to intimidate the country’s judicial system.
“Their message appears to be: if our demands are not accepted, we will take to the streets against you as well,” he claimed.
Asked about Gandhi’s description of the Opposition’s ongoing protest as Lord Shiva’s tandav and his comparison of the march to Shiva’s wedding procession, Thakur declined to comment directly. He said the Congress had made remarks about Sanatan Dharma in Parliament and on the streets whenever it “suited its political purposes”.
“Ali-Ali at night, Bajrang Bali during the day?” he said.
Responding to Gandhi’s allegations that Delhi had been turned into a fortress and that the BJP and the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi were protecting CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Thakur accused Opposition leaders of behaving inappropriately with police personnel and women during the protests.
Referring to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders and workers, he said videos of their conduct were available and that they were being “trolled” on social media.
“The slogan ‘I am a woman, I can fight’ now seems to have become ‘I am a woman, I can beat women’,” he said.
“Some are elbowing people, some are hitting them with their hands and others are doing different things. This is the situation they have created. The Congress appears frustrated and disappointed,” he added.
Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, the Hamirpur MP alleged that the Congress considered itself above the law and the Constitution.
“This is the same family and party that has treated the country as its personal property,” he alleged.
Thakur accused the Congress of suppressing democratic rights during the Emergency and said the Constitution carried by Gandhi had been defended by the people, the BJP and several other political parties against the Congress’s repression.
“You, on the other hand, tried to crush it,” he said.
He further accused the Congress of winning elections through malpractice before imposing the Emergency. “You will now talk about electoral fraud?” he asked.
Recalling the 1989 electoral contest between Rajiv Gandhi and Rajmohan Gandhi, Thakur described it as a contest between “fake Gandhi versus the real Gandhi”.
“How many polling booths did Congress workers capture? Tell the country,” he said.
Thakur said the events of Indira Gandhi’s tenure should continue to be taught in textbooks.
He also alleged that the Congress wanted a return to ballot papers because of its “history of capturing ballot boxes”.
“You have lost 99 elections, and now you blame the Election Commission,” he said.
“There is a phrase: ‘What you see is what you are.’ What you see reflects who you are. Your party has a history of capturing polling booths to win elections. You believe elections are being won in the same way today,” he said.
Thakur challenged Gandhi to produce evidence to substantiate his allegations against the Election Commission.
He said people had the right to disagree with the Election Commission’s decisions in a democracy but drew a distinction between questioning a decision and accusing a constitutional functionary of wrongdoing.
“Tell us which rule or law was violated and which order was wrong. Which voter’s rights were violated? What evidence have you provided to support that claim?” he asked, adding that the Leader of Opposition was also accountable in a democracy.
“Answer responsibly and do not make false allegations. If you like the mandate, it is democracy; if you lose an election, is it vote theft?” he asked.
(With inputs from PTI)
