Amit Shah Leads BJP’s “Save Democracy” March in Haryana's Karnal

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday led the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao” (Save Democracy, Eliminate Anarchy) foot march in Karnal, Haryana, as the first phase of the party’s nationwide campaign came to a close.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and senior party leaders received Shah on his arrival, and Saini took part in the march. The padyatra ran from Sector-12 to Dayanand Chowk. Smriti Irani, the party’s Haryana in-charge, inspected the arrangements a day earlier.

“RAHUL GANDHI IS SPREADING FALSE CLAIMS”

Haryana BJP president Archana Gupta used the occasion to attack the Congress leader. “Today, our Home Minister is visiting Karnal to address the people of Haryana. Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, is spreading false claims every day,” she said. “BJP leaders and workers are reaching out to people across the country to present the facts.”

She said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is growing, with a focus on the welfare of women, youth and farmers.

THE CAMPAIGN

Thursday marked the end of the first phase of the campaign. The second phase will run from November 11 to 30. The BJP says it is acting on the direction of its national president, Nitin Nabin, and will use it to raise public awareness about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the accuracy of voter lists and constitutional processes.

Through the two phases, the party wants to mobilise citizens at the grassroots and improve public understanding of electoral rolls and democratic procedures.

WHAT IT IS AN ANSWER TO

The campaign is the BJP’s counter to the Opposition’s “vote chori” (vote theft) charge and its criticism of the Election Commission and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing. Shah also joined a padyatra in Hyderabad on November 2, and the party has held similar marches in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Bareilly.

BEYOND THE MARCH

After Karnal, Shah was due to go to Ambala Cantonment to inaugurate the Shaheed Smarak on the Ambala-Delhi highway, a memorial to the unsung heroes of the 1857 uprising, and to address a rally at Gandhi Ground. The visit was part of Haryana’s 60th foundation day celebrations.

With inputs from ANI