'Why Nov 1?' BJP questions Rahul over rally date coinciding with 1984 riots anniversary

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday upped the ante against Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of rubbing salt into the wounds of the Sikh community by holding an INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 - the anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad questioned the Congress leader's insistence on holding the rally on the date. "Why is Rahul Gandhi so adamant about holding his rally in Delhi on November 1? This issue is being raised very seriously by our party. November 1 is a day that holds deep emotional significance for the Sikh community, as they remember the 1984 massacre with profound sorrow," Prasad said.

"So, by creating a storm at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, what kind of salt does Rahul Gandhi want to rub into their wounds?" he asked.

The BJP leader also said that many members of the opposition alliance were not satisfied with the decision to hold the rally on November 1. "We have heard that many members of their alliance were also not satisfied with this decision. We have also received information that a virtual meeting was convened on October 22 to discuss this issue. However, since many allies did not attend, the meeting was postponed," he said.

"We have also learnt that several allies were unhappy with the November 1 date and had suggested that the rally be postponed to a later date. This reflects Rahul Gandhi's true face. When he insists on something, he refuses to listen to anyone. If he is determined to have his way, he will go ahead, even if it means cruelly mocking the sentiments of the Sikh community," the BJP leader said.

The opposition rally aims to ramp up pressure on the government over the "vote chori" issue and demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

On October 12, protests over the "vote theft" charge reached the Supreme Court's doorstep, with opposition leaders, activists and civil society members participating in a 'March for Democracy' along a heavily barricaded route in Delhi and filing a joint petition against the SIR.

Rahul hosted INDIA bloc leaders for tea at his home on October 13. After the meeting, the opposition bloc vowed to continue resisting and take the "vote chori" fight to its logical conclusion.