NEW DELHI: Union minister JP Nadda on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi over the INDIA bloc's rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, accusing the opposition of using the banner of democracy to create unrest, damage the economy and destabilise an elected government.
Reacting to the 'Chalo Delhi' mobilisation, Nadda said the rally was a тАЬcalculated conspiracy to plunge the nation into anarchyтАФin the name of democracyтАЭ. He described it as a тАЬfoolish, orchestrated dramaтАЭ by parties that had been defeated and rejected by voters.
Addressing Rahul Gandhi directly, the Union minister outlined what he called the Congress leader's model of politics, alleging that it involved spreading misinformation, provoking street protests, harming the economy and seeking to destabilise an elected government at the behest of foreign powers.
тАЬThe first stage is spreading lies and rumours; the second is inciting anarchy and chaos on the streets; the third is damaging the nationтАЩs economy; and the fourth is attempting to destabilise an elected government at the behest of foreign powers,тАЭ Nadda said.
He also alleged that the November 1 rally had four specific objectives: hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, triggering violence in Delhi to bring down a democratically elected government, affecting the earnings of traders during the festive season and damaging India's reputation.
Nadda's remarks came amid the INDIA bloc's protest against alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
"Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully: this is IndiaтАФnot some 'banana republic' where you can incite arson, trigger riots, or push an agenda for 'regime change' whenever you please. Stop dreaming, Rahul Gandhi. India is the worldтАЩs oldest and most robust democracy. November 1st stands as the most infamous and darkest stain in IndiaтАЩs democratic history. On this very day, goons nurtured by the Congress party massacred our innocent Sikh brethren. Thousands of Sikh families were rendered homeless overnight, and thousands of women were widowed. The nation has not forgotten; even today, the 'Widow Colony' in Delhi bears witness to that horrific and bloody chapter of Congress history. To this day, the Gandhi family has not offered a sincere apology to the Sikh community for that grave sin. Observe the insensitivity of the Congress and the petty mindset of Rahul Gandhi. On this dark dayтАФa day when the nation ought to be remembering its martyrs and victimsтАФRahul Gandhi stands at Ramlila Maidan, seeking only to further his own political agenda ...", Nadda added.
The rally has also drawn criticism from the BJP over its timing, with the ruling party accusing Congress of holding a political event on the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. BJP is holding a separate march in West Delhi under the banner of remembering the victims of the 1984 violence.
The march is scheduled to proceed from Hari Nagar Bus Depot to Tilak Nagar Metro Station, with Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president and other party leaders expected to participate.
Meanwhile, the BJP and its Mahayuti allies held a 'Lokshahi Bachao, Anarajakta Hatao' (Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy) padyatra in Mumbai on Sunday. Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan accused the Congress of spreading what he described as false narratives about constitutional institutions, including the judiciary and Parliament.
тАЬAt a time when the entire nation is witnessing a phase of development-oriented governance under the leadership of PM Modi, the opposition Congress party is, without any valid reason, attempting to create confusion among the public by propagating false narratives about our established institutions,тАЭ Chavan said.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske also criticised Rahul Gandhi and his associates, alleging that their activities were against the Constitution.
BJP has also launched a nationwide 'Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao' campaign to counter opposition allegations relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Party workers are expected to reach villages and households to present the BJP's position on the electoral process.
The opposition alliance, meanwhile, has maintained that its mobilisation is aimed at protecting democratic rights and raising concerns over alleged deletions of legitimate voters from electoral rolls.
Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri alleged that buses carrying supporters from his state were being stopped at different points on their way to Delhi. He claimed that some vehicles were intercepted over pollution norms and others over taxation issues, despite the buses being BS-VI-compliant.
тАЬWe had already instructed everyone that such obstructions might occur, and if stopped, they should simply continue on foot to reach Himachal Bhawan,тАЭ Agnihotri said, adding that the supporters were prepared to walk to Ramlila Maidan.
Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh called for accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and claimed that the number of votes involved in the alleged irregularities had risen from 13 crore to around 16 crore.
тАЬI am confident that, in the near future, the CEC Gyanesh Kumar will have to resign, and a new revolution will sweep across the entire country,тАЭ Singh said.
Uttarakhand leader of opposition Yashpal Arya described the rally as a тАЬbattle for justiceтАЭ to protect democracy and the Constitution.
Congress leader Kunwar Danish Ali also called the mobilisation historic and accused the government of targeting students, young people and farmers.
The INDIA bloc has demanded the replacement of electronic voting machines with paper ballots and the immediate resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Rahul Gandhi had appealed to people in Delhi and neighbouring states to join the march, either from Connaught Place or directly at Ramlila Maidan.
Security has been tightened across the national capital in view of the two political events. Nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel, including Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces, the CRPF and Rapid Action Force, have been deployed across Central and New Delhi, ANI reported.
More than 4,000 personnel have been stationed around Ramlila Maidan, along the route from Minto Bridge and in surrounding areas. Barricades have also been placed around Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Bhagwan Das Road and areas near the Supreme Court and the Election Commission's office.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita has been imposed in sensitive areas to prevent large unauthorised gatherings. Security agencies are also using CCTV cameras, AI-enabled facial recognition systems and drones to monitor crowd movement.
At the Delhi-Gurugram border, Border Security Force personnel have been deployed alongside police units to monitor entry points into the capital. Authorities have installed barricades on major routes connecting the two cities and are checking suspicious vehicles.
