Ranchi

Union minister Bhagirath Choudhary on Thursday criticised the Congress-led opposition for holding demonstrations in Delhi against CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, claiming that the protests were "out of frustration".

Choudhary arrived in Ranchi this morning to inaugurate multiple facilities at ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB).

"The opposition is left with no issue at all. They are frustrated and disheartened. This is why they resort to protest and are making baseless statements. Their demonstrations are out of frustration," Choudhary told reporters at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were forcibly removed on Wednesday by the Delhi police and were detained after they, along with other leaders, staged a sit-in at the roundabout near the Shangri-La hotel in central Delhi.

Gandhi and other MPs and leaders were headed in buses to the Jantar Mantar protest site after they were stopped by the police from proceeding further.

They staged a sit-in at the roundabout itself, with Priyanka Gandhi lying on the road along with other women leaders, while carrying a copy of the Constitution.

Choudhary, the minister of state for agriculture, said the people of the country stand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi "because of the amount of work he has accomplished over the past 12 years".

"His (PM) work is guided by the principles of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas'. Since the opposition needs some excuses, they are making baseless statements," the minister said.

He claimed that the country's prestige and honour have been noted across the world due to its progress, and efforts have been made for the welfare of the poor and the common people.

"The opposition should try to win the public's trust. Instead, they engage in reckless rhetoric, constantly adopting new stances, making new statements, and attempting to rake up new issues," Choudhary added.

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Earlier, the facilities of IIAB were scheduled to be inaugurated by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.