BJP born of India’s soil, Cong DNA foreign: Vij on Rahul jibe

Ludhiana: Haryana energy and transport minister Anil Vij has launched a scathing defence of the state and country's governing side, dismissing opposition claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is an "outsider" force and branding the Congress party a relic of British colonial rule.Vij on Sunday rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, for suggesting the BJP would eventually exit India like the Mughals and the British. Vij asserted that while those previous rulers were foreign invaders, the BJP is an indigenous movement rooted in "India's soil, culture, and people".A Clash of Historical NarrativesSpeaking to reporters in Ambala, Vij claimed Rahul's comparison revealed a profound ignorance of history. He argued that suggesting the BJP should "depart" was an insult to the Indian electorate. "If any party is destined to fade away, it is the Congress," Vij said. He labelled the opposition as a "foreign party", citing its 1885 founding by British officer A O Hume. Vij predicted the Congress would continue to shrink until it vanished entirely from the political landscape.Global Trade and the ‘Modi Factor'The minister also addressed Rahul's criticisms regarding international trade, specifically allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent over a 50% US tariff on Indian textile exports. Vij countered that the PM's "strong global relationships" have diversified India's economic interests. Citing new strategic reach and economic resilience, he says India now maintains trade avenues with nearly 100 countries and "does not suffer because of obstruction by any single nation", arguing that the govt prepares solutions for such challenges well in advance.Dismissing ‘Vote Theft', Corruption ClaimsThe minister was equally blunt regarding Rahul's recent allegations of electoral malpractice and "vote theft". Vij characterised the claims as "drama" that had been exposed by a lack of evidence. He noted that no formal written complaints were submitted to the Election Commission and pointed to recent election results as proof of public rejection of these theories.Turning to domestic allegations, Vij dismissed former Congress minister Randeep Singh Surjewala's claims of illegal mining under BJP's patronage. Vij alleged that environmental degradation — including the exploitation of rivers and the Aravalli hills — had reached its peak during previous Congress administrations. He maintained that the current BJP govt had imposed strict environmental restrictions, supported by firm stances from the Supreme Court.Constitutional IntegrityFinally, Vij reacted to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's assertion that the central govt used state governors as "puppets". Vij accused the Congress of hypocrisy, citing their historical use of Article 356 to dismiss elected state govts. He insisted that under the current administration, constitutional institutions were treated with "full dignity and respect", contrasting it with the Congress party's record of central intervention. Ends MSID:: 127480136 413 |