Gorakhpur: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing them of undermining democratic institutions and creating an atmosphere of anarchy.“Opposition parties are unable to accept electoral defeats and repeatedly question the credibility of democratic institutions. Such institutions form the foundation of Indian democracy and any conspiracy to undermine public confidence in them should not be accepted,” he said.He was addressing NDA’s ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) foot march.Raising questions over the opposition’s criticism of EVMs, he said: “When they win elections, they credit their political strength, but when they lose, they blame EVMs. If EVMs are so unreliable, why does Rahul Gandhi take oath as an MP after winning elections through the same system? He should resign.”Referring to the Emergency, Yogi questioned Congress’s credentials to speak about democracy. He demanded that Rahul and Congress apologise to the people for the Emergency, during which innocent people were jailed, properties confiscated and several died due to police atrocities.He also criticised Congress over its observance of the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, alleging that the party had hurt the sentiments of victims’ families by celebrating at a time when the country was remembering the victims and expressing solidarity with them.Taking a swipe at SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over his reported remark that the next generation would avenge every lathi charge and injury, Yogi said: “In a democracy, it is not revenge but the people who bring change. The people of India have demonstrated this in 2014 and the people of Uttar Pradesh did so in 2017.”Citing electoral performances, the chief minister said Congress had secured 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 52 in 2019 and 99 in 2024, taking its cumulative tally across the three elections to 195. In contrast, he pointed out, BJP had won 240 seats on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.He also referred to BJP’s performance in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, claiming that the party had secured 255 seats, more than the combined tally of Congress and Samajwadi Party in the two assembly elections of 2017 and 2022.Yogi cited BJP’s electoral victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in 2023, Haryana in 2024 and Delhi in 2025 to argue that voters, rather than political parties, ultimately determine electoral outcomes. He also referred to NDA’s victory in Maharashtra and BJP’s performance in Bihar.The chief minister said India was progressing towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but opposition parties were creating obstacles through political instability and provocative statements.Without naming individuals, he also criticised those allegedly threatening to turn India into Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka or France, asserting that the country would not tolerate anarchy.“This is a new India which respects its great personalities, heritage and traditions but does not tolerate disorder, terrorism or Naxalism,” he said.Highlighting BJP govt’s tenure in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said the state had witnessed a major transformation since 2017. He alleged that before BJP came to power, successive Samajwadi Party govts had been marked by riots, lawlessness and anarchy.He said the pad yatra was aimed at generating public awareness about the factors obstructing India’s journey towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation and mobilising people to protect democratic values.Yogi likens Rahul to a ‘failed rocket’In a jibe at Rahul, Yogi likened him to a Diwali rocket that fails to take off despite repeated launch attempts.“During Diwali, some rockets do not take off even after the fuse is lit. People keep looking towards the sky, but the rocket remains where it is, producing smoke before going out. Rahul Gandhi is in the same situation,” he said.Listing Rahul’s political milestones, Yogi noted that he became a Lok Sabha member in 2004, Congress general secretary in 2007, vice-president in 2013 and party president in 2017.He also referred to Bharat Jodo Yatra, Nyay Yatra and other campaigns launched by Congress following Rahul’s defeat from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.“Rahul is now 56-year-old, but he is still being projected as a young leader. This rocket is never going to take off,” Yogi said.
