New Delhi, October 24: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday criticised the Congress over the INDIA bloc’s proposed rally in New Delhi on November 1, accusing Rahul Gandhi of disregarding Sikh sentiments by insisting on holding the protest on a date associated with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that several INDIA bloc constituents were uncomfortable with the Congress’s decision to hold the rally on November 1 and wanted the event rescheduled.
However, Prasad claimed that Rahul Gandhi was unwilling to reconsider the date.
The BJP leader accused the Congress leader of hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community by proceeding with the rally on the chosen date and strongly condemned the decision.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots broke out in Delhi and other parts of the country following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
The INDIA bloc’s proposed rally at Ramlila Maidan is planned 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 described the rally as part of its campaign against alleged “vote chori”, asserting that the mobilisation will demonstrate opposition unity in protecting democracy and the Constitution.
The party has claimed that around 10 lakh people are expected to participate in the march and rally.
The BJP’s criticism has added another point of political contention ahead of the opposition bloc’s planned November 1 demonstration.
