NEW DELHI, October 25 (Aalimi Nation) – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday responded with a sarcastic social media post to the BJP's demand that the INDIA bloc move its November 1 rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, which the party says falls on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
INDIA bloc rally: Rahul Gandhi's response
In a post on X, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha thanked the BJP and its allies for publicising the "Save the Vote, Save the Country" march and rally. "Heartfelt thanks to BJP and its allies, who are promoting this program with such great enthusiasm," he wrote, adding: "Just keep up this same zeal and dedication for the next 7 days!"
He urged students, farmers, workers, women, youth and traders to attend, saying the fight belonged to everyone. Gandhi said voters' names had been removed from electoral rolls, that rules and laws had been broken, and that police had used lathis on people asking questions. "Our votes are being stolen, and we will not tolerate this quietly under any circumstances," he said.
BJP objects to the date
Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said November 1 "holds deep emotional significance for the Sikh community" because of the 1984 riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He asked whether Gandhi wanted to "rub salt into their wounds."
Prasad also claimed that several INDIA bloc members were unhappy with the date. He said a virtual meeting on October 22 to discuss the issue was postponed because several alliance partners did not attend, and that some allies had suggested postponing the rally. These claims came from the BJP side and had not been confirmed by the INDIA bloc.
Traders seek a later date
The Delhi Chamber of Trade and Industry has also written to Gandhi asking that the rally be put off until after Bhai Dooj on November 10. It argued that the gathering would fall in peak festive shopping days around Dhanteras and Diwali and could disrupt business. The chamber estimated festive trade at about Rs 25,000 crore. It warned that more than 20 markets nearby, including Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar, could face traffic diversions and barricading.
What the rally is about
The rally is aimed at pressing the government over the opposition's allegations of "vote chori", or vote theft, and at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Opposition leaders have also planned a "public impeachment" of the Chief Election Commissioner on October 30, including a mock Parliament at Hotel Ashok in Delhi. Congress has said it expects a very large turnout on November 1, with a figure of at least 10 lakh people mentioned in reports.
No report indicated that the rally had been postponed or that permission had been withdrawn. The Delhi Police had not announced traffic arrangements for the event.
