Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada District Congress president Padmaraj R Poojary has accused the BJP of using its ‘Save Democracy’ campaign to divert public attention from allegations of electoral irregularities and concerns over democratic institutions.
Poojary alleged that the BJP had weakened independent constitutional institutions and misused investigative agencies for political purposes over the past decade. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign against alleged ‘vote theft’ had brought the issue of protecting citizens’ voting rights into national focus.
He claimed the BJP’s campaign was an attempt to counter the growing public debate on the issue.
Poojary also criticised the BJP’s Mangaluru division convention for featuring dance performances to devotional songs by college students. He said bhajans were a form of spiritual devotion and should not be turned into entertainment at political gatherings.
He argued that political parties should focus on public issues such as development and good governance rather than invoking religious sentiments for electoral gains.
Poojary further accused the BJP of spreading misinformation and attempting to use religious traditions for political messaging, saying such practices would face scrutiny from citizens.
