Pralhad Joshi slams CJP protest at Jantar Mantar as 'childish act', flags anarchy attempt
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday, 10 October sharply criticised the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling it a 'childish act' and alleging that the demonstrators were attempting to create anarchy in the country.
Joshi's Remarks on the Protest
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Joshi alleged, 'This is a childish act. They come to protest with their people but fail to control them. They assault police personnel and a woman journalist, damage public property and refuse to follow the law and police regulations. This is an attempt to create anarchy.'
The minister's remarks came amid heightened political tensions over the CJP's planned demonstration, which has drawn scrutiny from both law enforcement and the judiciary.
On INDIA Bloc's Meeting with the President
Reacting to INDIA Bloc leaders' meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, Joshi argued that there was an established democratic procedure to raise concerns before the President, and the opposition had not followed it in the right spirit. 'In a democracy, there is a system in place. Whenever they feel that something is happening, they should submit it to the President. But they should have done this earlier. Why sleep on the streets for three days and stage a drama? This is just an attempt to shift the blame for their defeat onto someone else,' he claimed.
Supreme Court Remarks and Delhi Police Role
Commenting on the Supreme Court's remarks regarding the protest, Joshi noted that the Chief Justice of India had called for reasonable restrictions, and that the Delhi Police would determine the necessary measures on the ground. 'The Delhi Police officials will take the decision. They will keep in mind the concerns expressed by the Chief Justice of India and ensure that ordinary people do not face any problems,' he said.
West Bengal Politics and Mamata Banerjee
Turning to West Bengal, Joshi claimed that former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was losing political ground in the state, attributing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s electoral gains to what he described as her 'misrule and corruption.' 'If the BJP has come to power, the sole reason is Mamata's misrule and corruption,' he said.
Cleanliness Campaign in Patna
Earlier in the day, Joshi participated in a symbolic cleanliness drive near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Patna, sweeping the area as part of the national Seva Sankalp and cleanliness campaign running from 2 October to 31 October. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the campaign in 2014 to build public awareness about sanitation and civic responsibility.
Joshi's remarks signal a sharper BJP pushback against opposition street protests ahead of what political observers see as an increasingly contentious pre-election period in several states.