‘Congress Silence Will Help BJP’: After Opposition Meet, AAP Slams INC Over Its Stance On Delhi Ordinance

Right after attending the mega Opposition meeting in Patna Friday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit out at the Congress, questioning its “silence” on the Centre’s Delhi ordinance. It said the Congress is yet to make its stand clear on the issue. While AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann and Raghav Chadha attended the Opposition’s meeting to devise a strategy for the Lok Sabha 2024 polls, the party in a statement issued later said the Congress during the “like-minded” parties’ meeting refused to publicly “denounce the Black Ordinance” despite many leaders urging it to do so.

“A total of 15 parties are attending the like-minded party meeting in Patna, out of which 12 have representation in the Rajya Sabha. Except for the Indian National Congress, all other 11 parties, which have representation in the Rajya Sabha, have clearly expressed their stand against the Black Ordinance and announced that they would oppose it in the Rajya Sabha,” the party said in the statement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has, however, hinted that the Congress is ready to put aside its differences with the Aam Aadmi Party for the sake of a united Opposition against the BJP ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. According to sources, soon after the mega Opposition meeting in Patna, Rahul Gandhi said: “The Congress is ready to make sacrifices to save the country.” He, however, did not outrightly condemn the ordinance.

The AAP has been vocal about its concerns, stressing that the Delhi ordinance not only threatens the elected government in Delhi, but also poses a grave risk to India’s democracy as a whole.

“The Congress, a national party that takes a stand on almost all issues, has yet to make its position on the Black Ordinance public. However, the Congress’ Delhi and Punjab units have announced that the party should support the Modi government on this issue,” it added.

The AAP said the Congress’s silence raises suspicions about its “real intentions”. “In personal discussions, senior Congress leaders have hinted that their party may abstain from voting on it in Rajya Sabha. The Congress’ abstention from voting on this issue will help the BJP immensely in furthering its attack on Indian democracy,” the AAP statement further read.