SC order calls BJP bluff, says Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Supreme Court order on floor test in Karnataka was a vindication of the party’s stand that the governor acted “unconstitutionally”.

Mr Gandhi said the court has called out BJP’s “bluff” of forming a government even without the numbers and alleged that the party will now resort to using money and muscle power to “steal” the mandate.

The BJP, however, hit back saying that the Congress’ “double standards” towards the judiciary has been exposed as it was now praising the Supreme Court after insulting it and also attempting to impeach the Chief Justice of India.

Mr Gandhi told reporters in Durg that his party was denied the opportunity to form governments in Manipur and Goa despite having the highest number of seats in the respective Assemblies.

“In Karnataka, the BJP was given an opportunity but the Congress was not given this option in Manipur (28 seats out of 60) and Goa (16 seats in 40-member House)," Mr Gandhi said.

The Congress chief said the more “serious” situation was of the RSS “capturing every democratic institution”.

“For the first time, four judges of the Supreme Court came out in public and sought justice from the people. The RSS has been capturing every democratic institution. This is a fight of ideology,” he told party workers, adding that “we all” have to fight the ideology of the BJP and the RSS, and defeat them.

The Narendra Modi government was for some “selected 15-20 per cent of the richest people,”he said.

The basic objective of RSS is to use Hindus, not to promote their interests. I am fighting against such forces. Hence, I am the real protector of Hindu religion

— RAHUL GANDHI, Congress president