Lucknow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a sharp attack on the Congress and opposition parties during a press conference in Lucknow, accusing them of attempting to create political unrest in the country. He alleged that the opposition was seeking a change of power along the lines of Bangladesh and claimed that its approach could undermine democratic institutions. Singh's remarks focused on the opposition's political strategy, allegations of vote theft and the role of young people in political movements.

Rajnath Singh is currently on a three-day visit to Lucknow. On Friday, the second day of his visit, he addressed the media and criticised the Congress over several political issues. Responding to Rahul Gandhi's allegations of vote theft, the Defence Minister said the Congress had no evidence to substantiate its claims. He described the allegations as baseless and questioned the basis on which they had been raised.

During the press conference, Singh also referred to recent developments in Delhi, saying that the events had raised several serious questions. He alleged that the Congress and its political allies, either directly or through organisations supporting them, were attempting to channel the energy of young people towards political confrontation rather than constructive activities and nation-building.

The Defence Minister claimed that young people were being used as instruments in what he described as the politics of disorder. He said the energy of the country's youth should be directed towards development, productive activities and nation-building. According to Singh, political disagreements should be addressed through democratic processes rather than by encouraging confrontation or instability.

Singh referred to the change of government in Bangladesh while criticising the opposition's political approach. He alleged that some opposition leaders had spoken about changing the government and had referred to Bangladesh as a source of inspiration. The Defence Minister argued that such statements raised questions about their political intentions. These remarks represent Singh's allegations and should not be treated as established evidence of a common strategy shared by all opposition parties.

The Defence Minister further argued that the opposition's political campaign was not limited to issues such as electoral reforms, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls or Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He alleged that these issues were being used to intensify political confrontation and pursue a broader objective of gaining power.

The controversy comes amid continuing political disagreements over electoral processes, voter lists and allegations of irregularities. Singh rejected Rahul Gandhi's claims of vote theft, maintaining that the Congress had not presented evidence to support them. The Congress and other opposition parties have raised concerns about electoral issues, while the ruling side has challenged their allegations. The claims made by different political parties need to be assessed separately on the basis of verifiable evidence and official information.

Singh's comments also placed the role of young people at the centre of the political debate. He argued that the country's youth should contribute to constructive work and national development instead of becoming involved in political confrontation. His criticism reflected the government's position on the recent events in Delhi, although the allegations about the opposition's intentions remain political claims made by the Defence Minister.

Apart from his political engagements, Singh is scheduled to meet representatives of various social organisations at his residence on Kalidas Marg in Lucknow. During the visit, he is also expected to travel to different areas, meet families mourning the loss of loved ones and pay tribute to the deceased.

The press conference is likely to add to the political debate surrounding the Congress, electoral reforms and the opposition's criticism of the government. Singh's remarks centred on the alleged pursuit of a Bangladesh-style change of power, the use of political movements and the credibility of vote theft allegations. Any assessment of these claims will depend on the responses of the parties concerned and the evidence presented in support of their respective positions.