BJP says Rahul Gandhi's 1 November rally will 'rub salt' into Sikh wounds as traders ask for a later date

The BJP on Saturday accused Rahul Gandhi of choosing a painful date for the opposition’s big rally in Delhi. Holding it on 1 November, the anniversary week of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, was a deliberate insult to the Sikh community, the party said.

“Rahul Gandhi is, in a very calculated manner, attempting to rub salt into the wounded sentiments of the Sikh community,” BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference in New Delhi. “Why November 1st, Mr. Rahul Gandhi? What is the reason behind your stubborn resolve?”

Congress and its INDIA bloc partners plan to gather at Ramlila Maidan that day to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They accuse him of presiding over a flawed special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Delhi Police have already cleared the venue.

The 1984 shadow

Prasad reminded reporters of Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s remark on the riots, “Why keep bringing up ‘84? What happened, happened.” He set it against the Modi government’s record with the community. He cited the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and the recognition given to the sons of Guru Gobind Singh.

Congress had not answered Prasad by mid-afternoon. Earlier in the day, its MP Jebi Mather said the date had no special meaning. “There’s nothing particular about the date,” she said. “This is a mega rally from across the country; different parties, everybody is going to come together.”

She dismissed talk of a rift in the opposition. “There are no differences within the INDIA bloc or opposition parties about this,” she said, calling it “a very historic rally, giving a strong message that we stand together in protecting democracy.”

Traders want it after Diwali

Delhi’s traders also want the date changed, though for different reasons. The Chamber of Trade and Industry, led by its chairman Brijesh Goyal, wrote to Gandhi on Saturday asking him to move the rally to a date after 10 November. A crowd that size in the middle of the festive season would hurt business in the capital’s markets, the chamber said. “Dhanteras falls on November 6, Diwali on November 8 and Bhai Dooj on November 10,” the letter said.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal first announced the rally on 5 October. He presented it as part of the party’s campaign against what he called “the criminal Vote Chori orchestrated by Gyanesh & Co.”

Police and protests

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was due to visit Delhi Police headquarters on Saturday to review law and order in the capital. The capital has seen weeks of protests by opposition parties, students and the Cockroach Janta Party against the Election Commission. On Friday, Left parties and student leaders marched near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, and traffic police diverted vehicles for four hours.

Five Jamia Millia Islamia students have also been on a hunger strike for 13 days. They want the student union restored and suspensions revoked.

What happens next

With a week to go, Congress shows no sign of moving the date. Gandhi had already declined calls to change it before Saturday, and the party now has to deal with the BJP’s charge and the traders’ request together.