Jatiya Party chairman GM Quader has alleged that those who are urging people to vote ‘yes’ in the referendum are ‘proponents of Nazism’ and questioned the neutrality and legality of the process.

The JP chief, addressing a rally at the party office on Central Road in Rangpur city to launch his election campaign on Saturday, said that the country was being pushed into a referendum where people were being pressured to vote as per the government’s wishes.

He questioned the neutrality of the upcoming referendum and said, ‘The people who do not want to vote as per the government’s wishes, they are being threatened and intimidated.’

He claimed that those opposing ‘yes’ vote were being branded as allies of authoritarianism, adding, ‘I will say the people seeking “yes” votes are “proponents of Nazism”.’

He said the interim government came to power by taking an oath to uphold the constitution.

He said that constitutional reforms should be implemented through parliament after an election, and only then can a referendum be held, if necessary.

‘The government is not explaining the referendum properly to the people,’ he said, terming the referendum unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.

He alleged that the people supporting a ‘no’ vote in the referendum were being labelled as ‘proponents of autocracy’, while claims were being made that voting ‘yes’ would make the country a paradise. ‘It is a deception, people will vote for ‘no’ in the referendum.’

The JP chief further alleged that the government was investing heavily, exerting influence, issuing threats and using state funds to control the referendum’s outcome.

‘We will not accept the results of such a manipulated vote. By bringing a ‘yes’  vote victory through engineering, they want to form a so-called revolutionary government that will run the country at their will, sidelining parliament and its members,’ he said.

He also said that the Awami League was not banned as a political party, but it was being prevented from participating in politics.

He also alleged discrimination against his party.

GM Quader claimed that BNP, Jamaat, and NCP were seeking Awami League supporters’ votes without facing objections, but the Jatiya Party was being labelled as a collaborator for doing the same.

Referring to post-uprising developments, GM Quader said that the interim government chief had stated that student coordinators were their employers.

‘Now it appears that Jamaat, NCP and the interim government are jointly running the country, and elections under their supervision cannot be neutral,’ he alleged.

‘Jatiya Party will continue its political activities despite being obstructed illegally and branded as collaborators. We will continue to work to establish the rights of the country’s people,’ he said.

Jatiya Party presidium member SM Yasir Ahmed, vice chairman Abdur Razzak, district convener Azmal Hossain Lebu, central leader Hasanuzzaman Nazim, and city unit senior vice chairman Lokman Hossain were also present.

After the rally, GM Quader conducted an election campaign in several areas of the city, including Central Road, Paira Chattar, Jahaj Company intersection, Press Club area, Walton Mor and Grand Hotel Mor.