NEW DELHI, May 3: union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Sunday launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, accusing them of systematically targeting key institutions of Indian democracy and warning that voters would deliver a “befitting reply.”
In a series of posts on social media platform X, Rijiju alleged that opposition parties had expanded their criticism from government agencies and electronic voting systems to constitutional bodies and the judiciary.
“All opposition parties have attacked the Govt. Agencies, EVMs, Election Commission, Media & now targeting the Judiciary. They don’t realise that they are attacking the core of Indian democracy,” he wrote, adding, “Wait, People of India will give them a befitting reply, teach lifetime lesson!”
His remarks come amid heightened political tensions, with opposition leaders in recent months raising concerns over the functioning of institutions such as the Election Commission of India, the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), and the independence of investigative agencies. The government has consistently rejected these allegations, asserting that democratic institutions remain robust and impartial.
Rijiju also invoked historical precedents to counter opposition criticism, questioning their record during earlier periods of governance. “Was Indian democracy thriving when emergency was imposed in 1975 ” he said, referring to The Emergency in India, when civil liberties were curtailed under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He further cited the supersession of senior judges in 1973 as an example of alleged political interference in judicial appointments, and recalled that the Supreme Court of India had once described the Central Bureau of Investigation as a “caged parrot.” Rijiju also accused previous Congress-led governments of appointing politically affiliated individuals to key constitutional positions, contrasting it with what he described as a more transparent, committee-based system in place today.
The minister additionally referred to amendments to the Constitution’s Preamble during the Emergency period, alleging that those who now raise concerns about democratic values had remained silent at the time. “The sins committed by the Congress Party never ends… People of India are not fools!” he said.
The opposition has yet to respond in detail to Rijiju’s latest remarks, though several parties have previously defended their criticism of institutions as necessary for safeguarding democratic accountability. The exchange underscores the deepening political divide ahead of upcoming electoral contests, with both sides invoking institutional integrity and historical legacy to strengthen their positions. (UNI)
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