The BJP on Sunday mounted a strong attack on the Congress-led INDIA bloc over its ‘Chalo Dilli’ march and rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan, accusing the Opposition of attempting to create political unrest, affecting small traders during the festive season and hurting Sikh sentiments by holding the event on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Union home minister Amit Shah, speaking in Chandigarh, targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the choice of date, alleging that the rally had hurt the families of those killed in the violence despite repeated appeals to postpone it.
“Rahul Gandhi has organised a major rally in Delhi today, effectively rubbing salt into the wounds of the riot victims. We assumed that perhaps he was too young at the time, or that he hadn't studied history and was therefore unaware,” Shah said.
He added that the BJP had held a press conference requesting the Opposition not to organise the event on November 1, 2 or 3, the dates associated with the anti-Sikh violence, but alleged that the Congress had remained adamant.
BJP leaders accuse Opposition of promoting anarchy
Union minister JP Nadda described the INDIA bloc's demonstration as a conspiracy to create disorder under the guise of defending democracy.
“What is unfolding today at Ramlila Maidan is not an act of respect for democracy; rather, it is a calculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchy, in the name of democracy. This is a foolish, orchestrated drama staged by those who have been defeated and repeatedly rejected by the people,” Nadda said.
He also accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of disregarding the concerns of small traders and businessmen during the festive season, claiming that the rally had not been deferred despite appeals from traders' organisations.
“The objective of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party is to paralyse Delhi during this sacred festive season, to strike a blow at the livelihoods of our small-scale shopkeepers and traders, and to incite an atmosphere of unrest and chaos in the country,” he said, according to PTI.
Nadda also referred to the date of the rally, describing November 1 as one of the darkest days in India's democratic history. The date marks the beginning of the anti-Sikh violence that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“On this very day, goons patronised by Congress massacred our innocent Sikh brothers. Thousands and lakhs of Sikh families became homeless overnight,” he said.
BJP president Nitin Nabin also accused the Opposition of targeting constitutional institutions after failing to secure an electoral mandate.
“In a democracy, the public casts their votes and provides a mandate to govern. You did not receive that mandate. Consequently, you find yourself in a state of despair and frustration, and you are choosing to blame constitutional institutions,” he said in Rohtak.
Union minister Kirti Vardhan Singh alleged that the rally could disrupt law and order, describing it as an unreasonable response by parties that had been out of power for several years.
BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan, meanwhile, said holding the march on the anniversary of the 1984 violence had hurt the Sikh community.
“Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc holding this anarchic march and rally today on the very anniversary of the 1984 Sikh massacre has deeply hurt, pained and insulted the sentiments of the entire Sikh community,” he told ANI.
Fadnavis accuses Congress of ‘Samvidhan chori’
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of being part of a larger conspiracy to bring down the elected government, alleging that it was backed by foreign funding.
“The Congress, under Indira Gandhi's leadership, was the first to subvert the Constitution, the judiciary and democracy in the country,” Fadnavis said.
He also hit back at the Opposition's allegations of ‘vote chori’, accusing the Congress of undermining the Constitution.
“Those who shout 'vote chori' have themselves committed 'Samvidhan chori'. They are the real Constitution thieves,” he said after attending the BJP's ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakata Hatao’ (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) march.
BJP holds counter-march in west Delhi
The BJP also organised a separate march in west Delhi's Hari Nagar, alongside members of the Sikh community, to protest against the Congress rally and demand an apology over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The march, led by Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, was joined by Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president and Union minister Harsh Malhotra, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, senior advocate HS Phoolka and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, among others. Sikh community members and families affected by the 1984 violence also took part.
The march began at Hari Nagar Bus Depot and proceeded towards Tilak Nagar Metro Station. BJP leaders said the protest was being held at the request of Sikh families and community organisations affected by the riots. The party also called on the Congress to apologise for the killings.
Earlier, Malhotra had said traders were concerned about possible business losses because of traffic congestion during the festive shopping period, with vehicles arriving in Delhi from outside the city. He had also referred to pollution-control restrictions due to come into force on November 1, including curbs on vehicles below BS-VI emission standards entering the Capital.
Rahul Gandhi blames BJP for shop closures
Responding to the BJP's allegations that the Opposition rally would hurt traders, Rahul Gandhi accused the ruling party of forcing shops to shut in Connaught Place.
Gandhi said the Congress had urged people attending the march and rally to shop locally and support businesses. However, he claimed that shops had been shut when he passed through Connaught Place on his way to Ramlila Maidan.
“We told everyone that when you come here for the march and the mega rally, buy things, do some shopping. But, while coming to Connaught Place here, we found out that the BJP has forcibly shut down every single shop. So, you should know who is causing the loss to the traders, and how it's happening!” he said in a video.
Congress MP Pawan Khera had earlier questioned what he described as differing standards applied to demonstrations organised by the BJP and the Congress, particularly over their impact on local businesses.
“You should ask them if the traders will face losses or gain profit. BJP march benefits the traders, and Congress' march causes losses?” he told ANI.
The BJP had also rejected a separate allegation made by Gandhi before the rally that Amit Shah was trying to prevent people from travelling to Delhi to attend it. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra had challenged the Congress leader to provide evidence of anyone being stopped.