Boosted by the first big victory since in several years, Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi said his party will join hands with the opposition to “protect Indian institutions” from the attacks of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Speaking in the aftermath of the BJP failing to win majority in Karnataka Assembly, Gandhi indicated that the Congress Party will approach next year’s election under a broad coalition with regional players.
The party went alone in the Karnataka elections, and was soundly beaten by the BJP, but managed to stitch together an alliance with Janata Dal (Secular) after the election produced a hung assembly.
When asked what he meant by ‘we will defeat the BJP’ next year, he said: “It means we will all together, with co-ordination (with other parties), defeat the BJP,” Gandhi said. “We are going to work with the opposition to defeat the BJP.”
INSTITUTIONS UNDER ATTACK
Gandhi said the latest developments in Karnataka has brought home the point that he has been making for a long time — that the BJP has no respect for democratic institutions and law.
“The young people have seen firsthand how the PM directly authorized the purchase of our MLAs,” he said.
He said “the basic idea” behind the RSS is that to capture and control every institution in the country.
“Everyone is feeling it, women are feeling it, the press is feeling it.. even Narendra Modi’s MPs are feeling it.”
He said even the media has been feeling the pressure. “Some of you are very brave.. some of you needs a little push from us to attack them,” he said.