The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing a political counter-offensive against the Congress rally scheduled at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1, with plans to target the opposition party over the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, ANI reported on Saturday, citing sources.
According to those sources, the BJP is planning protests, marches and public meetings at several locations across Delhi to counter the Congress rally. Through these programmes, the party intends to highlight the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and raise questions about the Congress's accountability for the violence. The BJP accuses the Congress of reopening the wounds of the Sikh community and evading accountability for the events of 1984 — an accusation the Congress has not responded to in these reports.
The counter-plan comes as the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies step up preparations for the November 1 mega rally in Delhi. Read: Congress steps up prep for Nov 1 rally
At a press conference on Friday, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress and its allies of choosing November 1 for another round of protests in Delhi to foment 'anarchy', drawing a parallel with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, The Hindu reported. 'They are once again going to hold a protest in Delhi on November 1,' Trivedi claimed.
ANI reported that the BJP's strategy is also being viewed in the context of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, with the party preparing to corner the Congress over the 1984 riots and make the issue a key part of its political campaign ahead of the elections. The proposed counter-campaign is aimed at bringing the experiences of riot victims and their families, along with the demand for accountability and justice, back into the political discourse.
What is solid
- The Congress-led rally is scheduled at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1, and the BJP held a press conference on October 23 attacking the choice of date
- ANI, citing sources, reported the BJP is planning protests, marches and public meetings at several Delhi locations to counter the rally
What is only claimed
- The BJP's allegation that the Congress is reopening the Sikh community's wounds and evading accountability for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
- The BJP's claim, made by spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, that the November 1 protest is intended to foment 'anarchy'