The Home Minister also cited concerns from Delhi traders about traffic disruption during the festive shopping period.
November 1 Rally Draws Shah’s Criticism
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised Congress over the INDIA bloc’s decision to hold a rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Speaking in Chandigarh, he linked the date to the 1984 anti-Sikh violence and said the timing was painful for families affected by the events.
The opposition had organised the gathering to raise alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and objections to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Reference to the 1984 Violence
Shah recalled the violence that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984, referring to the deaths and suffering experienced by Sikh families. He also invoked a controversial statement made by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after the violence.
Shah argued that a large political event on November 1 was insensitive to survivors and families who continue to remember the tragedy.
Rahul Gandhi Also Targeted
The Home Minister questioned Rahul Gandhi’s decision to proceed with the rally despite objections from the BJP. He said his party had appealed to Congress to avoid November 1, 2 and 3 because of their association with the violence.
Shah also contrasted the rally date with Gandhi’s ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ message, saying the choice of date did not align with the Congress leader’s public emphasis on unity.
Festive Trading and Traffic Disruption
Shah said traders had asked opposition leaders to postpone the demonstration, citing the possibility that traffic restrictions and security arrangements could affect commercial activity during Diwali shopping. He referred to letters and press conferences by business organisations and cited an estimated Rs 25,000 crore in festive trading activity.
The estimate and the projected economic impact were claims made by Shah during his address.
Criticism of Symbolic CEC Proceedings
Shah also criticised the INDIA bloc’s symbolic public proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, describing the event as a mock Parliament. He accused opposition parties of spreading misinformation and disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
Different Issues Dominate the Political Debate
While the INDIA bloc said its rally was about voter rights and the Election Commission, the BJP focused on the historical significance of the date and possible effects on traders. The exchange placed the 1984 violence alongside the ongoing dispute over electoral-roll revision.