A silent protest took place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members gathered at the Income Tax crossroad wearing black ribbons on their hands. The protest, led by local MLAs and party officials, was in response to comments made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during an election rally in Kerala.
Participants in the protest chose to maintain silence instead of traditional slogans, emphasizing a serious and restrained form of dissent. Kharge’s remarks about the intelligence of Kerala voters compared to those in Gujarat sparked strong criticism from BJP leaders in the state. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel condemned the comments as insulting to Gujaratis and demanded an apology from Kharge.
During the protest, Ahmedabad City BJP president Prerak Shah criticized the Congress party’s historical stance against Gujarat and its people. He highlighted past instances where Congress leaders opposed key projects in the state, emphasizing that such statements are not acceptable to the people of Gujarat.
BJP leaders present at the protest expressed that Kharge’s comments were an affront to the entire state and vowed to address the issue in the upcoming local body elections. The protest at the Income Tax crossroad signified the party’s strong response to what they perceived as derogatory remarks towards Gujarat and its residents.
