The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday slammed the Congress party over the INDIA bloc’s upcoming November 1 rally in Delhi. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that Rahul Gandhi is “adamant” on holding the event on November 1 to rub salt on the wounds of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in the national capital, Prasad claimed that many of the INDIA bloc constituents are not convinced by Congress’ plan to hold the rally on November 1 and want the programme to be rescheduled. He accused Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, of deliberately choosing to hold the rally on November 1 and condemned his refusal to change the date.
“In a very calculated manner, Rahul Gandhi is trying to rub salt into the wounded sentiments of the Sikhs by insisting he will hold the rally on November 1. He is bent on playing a cruel joke on Sikhs,” he charged. “We vehemently condemn it,” the senior BJP leader said.
He claimed that Rahul Gandhi was not ready to listen to anybody. “Why November 1st, Mr. Rahul Gandhi? What is the reason behind your stubborn resolve to hold your rally specifically on November 1st? What message are you trying to convey?”
The INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally at the Ramlila Maidan has been described as the culmination of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march against alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Congress has asserted that at least 10 lakh people are expected to march against “vote chori”, saying this will send a strong message of “unity” over protecting democracy and the Constitution. Earlier on Friday, Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal met party leaders from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana at the AICC headquarters to review preparations for the rally to be held at Ramlila Maidan.
Anti-Sikh riots had erupted in Delhi and other parts of the country following the assassination of former prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.