Prakash Javadekar slammed Congress for saying democracy is under "threat" during PM Modi's rule
Rubbishing the opposition's charge that democracy was under threat under the BJP government, union ninister Prakash Javadekar and BJP's poll in-charge for Rajasthan today said the Congress was making remarks as if it has shrunk to a "fringe party" from a mainstream party and has no chance in the elections.
Mr Javadekar said, "Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot says if PM Modi comes, there will be no elections again. This is wrong. PM Modi won in 2014 and there are elections in 2019. Elections are taking place. Elections will happen in 2024, 2029 (and so on) but Congress has no chance in these elections."
"Congress was the mainstream party and now it has become a fringe party siding with the tukde-tudke gang," he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said in his public rallies that democracy and the Constitution are under "threat" during PM Modi's rule and elections may not happen if he comes to power again.
The union HRD minister exuded confidence that the BJP will, on its own, win more seats than in 2014 and the NDA will get two-thirds majority in polls.
"After two phases of polls, the BJP is very certain of its landslide victory. We will improve our tally of 2014 and will cross 300 mark on our own and NDA will have two-thirds majority. We are receiving people's support in all states across the country and the opposition is completely nervous, they are facing imminent defeat and therefore they are reacting the way they are," he said.
He said opposition parties were complaining against electronic voting machines (EVMs) which shows their fear of defeat.
"They know they are going to be defeated so from today only they are preparing ground and finding some excuses for their defeat. This is what Congress and opposition is all about. We are very confident that people are responding to PM Modi's leadership and they want him to be prime minister again," Mr Javadekar said.
Accusing Congress leaders of hurling abuses and making casteist remarks, Mr Javadekar demanded the Election Commission take notice of such comments.
When asked whether the BJP will file a complaint, the minister said the party's state unit has forwarded all relevant clippings to the party's legal cell in New Delhi.
Mr Javadekar said the BJP (and its alliance party RLP which is contesting on one seat of Nagaur) will win all the seats in the state.
Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats and the BJP is contesting on 24 seats and has given one seat to RLP headed by MLA Hanuman Beniwal, who himself is contesting as RLP candidate on Nagaur seat.