BJP president Nitin Gadkari, in a grand press conference attended by most senior leaders, has accused the Congress Party led government of slipping into an emergency mentality.
BJP, which does not agree with several of the protesters demands as well, asked Congress to respect other people’s right to popularize their opinion, even if they are different from the Government’s own.
“If someone has a different opinion from yours, does he not have the right to express his opinion? Does he not have the right to convince others of the opinion? What is this principle that the Congress has come up with,” he said.
When asked whether BJP supported the Lokpal demands of the protesters, he said: “The question is not of this party or that party or Lokpal. The question is of protecting the democratic rights in this country.”
“Every one has the right to say what they feel. Why are they quashing that right? If you don’t agree with it, do what you want. In democracy, things work on the basis of majority. But why are you bringing about democracy,” he said, promising that the party will take up the fight to protect democratic freedoms in the Parliament and outside.
Gadkari’s press conference follows that of BJP’s parliamentary party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.
The BJP also led an unprecedented meeting of all opposition parties including the Left to discuss today’s events.
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