A delegation of BJP including S. Jaishankar, Arjun Ram Meghwal and G. Kishan Reddy Union Ministers address the media after meeting with Election Commission of India, outside Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on May 15, 2024.
BJP has demanded from the Election Commission of India (EC) to move strictly against Rahul Gandhi for accusing the government of Narendra Modi that it created two categories of soldiers. The first one included children who are born in poor families and which are belong to Dalits, Adivasis, back ward classes and economically weaker sections among general category and minorities whereas second category is comprised of rich families.
The party’s delegation having its External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar along with Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal as well as G Kishan Reddy approached the commission (EC) making a complaint. Also BJP Rajya Sabha MP and national media in-charge Anil Baluni was present.
“Few days ago he (Rahul Gandhi) said that Narendra Modi has made three types of soldiers—poor children or sons belonging to Dalit, Adivasi backward section or Economically Weaker Sections within the general category and minority communities while others include those whose fathers were rich,” said Jaishanker during a press conference after his meeting with ECI officials.
“This is false; this is an attack on our armed forces. These people want to make it controversial; they are trying to demoralize armed forces. This is not about elections; it is about national security,” he added.
Mr. Gandhi reportedly made these remarks during a recent poll rally in Rae Bareli where he also attacked the Modi government over Agnipath recruitment scheme.
According to Mr. Jaishankar, “It was extremely serious…We said very strongly that this should be taken up by you most seriously ─ these observations by Rahul Gandhi. It should take very strong action against the Congress leader and make him withdraw his remarks.”
“If such a thing is said about the Army during election time, which protects our borders from Chinese forces with all its might and stands firm against terrorism at the Pakistani border… If you talk like that without any reason about them, you lie, you say that if they get martyred then the government will not do anything for them, this we take very serious exception to it,” he continued.
Such an attack on armed forces is extremely perilous to our country, said Mr. Jaishankar.
“We must not tolerate it ever. Today we have come before Election Commission (seeking action against Mr. Gandhi) and we also want to say to whole country through this that no more such attacks on our soldiers by anyone for political reasons in this country will be tolerated,” he added.
According to Mr. Jaishankar, “This is not the first time that Congress or Rahul Gandhi has been attacking soldiers like this”.
“For instance, some years back when our soldiers pushed back Chinese forces in Arunachal Pradesh then Rahul Gandhi told Parliament that our army was beaten up by China. So we faced questionings about Balakot surgical strike also took place; similarly questions were raised over Uri successful operation,”
The BJP team also brought to the notice of the Election Commission, Mr. Jaishankar said, complaints launched by his party about the congress and other members of INDIA bloc on allegations that they had violated the Model Code of Conduct and should be investigated.
“It is very unfortunate that there has been no action taken,” he stated to newsmen.
