BJP Marches Against Congress Over 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots During INDIA Bloc Rally
The Bharatiya Janata Party organized a protest march in West Delhi to condemn the Congress party as the opposition alliance held a separate demonstration.
At a glance
- The BJP held a march in West Delhi to condemn the Congress party over the 1984 anti-Sikh violence.
- Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri described the 1984 killings as a well-planned massacre rather than a spontaneous riot.
- The protest coincided with an opposition INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan addressing electoral roll revisions.
- BJP leaders criticized the opposition for selecting November 1 for their political gathering.
The Bharatiya Janata Party took out a protest march in West Delhi to target the Congress party over the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, coinciding with a major opposition demonstration in the capital.
Union cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Puri led the march through Sikh-dominated areas, joined by Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and other senior party figures, demanding an apology from the opposition for holding its event on the anniversary date.
Clashing events in the capital
The BJP procession started at Hari Nagar bus depot and proceeded for about a kilometre toward Tilak Nagar Metro station. Participants carried the Tricolour and party flags while wearing black headbands and shouting slogans against the Congress and the Gandhi family.
The demonstration unfolded while the opposition INDIA bloc held its gathering at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi. That rally focused on opposition concerns regarding the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, and alleged irregularities tied to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Accusations over the 1984 violence
Puri rejected the characterization of the 1984 killings as spontaneous riots following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He stated that official records show 2,733 individuals lost their lives in Delhi, describing the event as a well-planned massacre and a crime against humanity.
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta also criticized the opposition leadership during the march. She accused the Gandhi family of failing to address the suffering of affected families and questioned the timing of the opposition rally on a date associated with the historical violence.
Political timing and context
The overlapping events highlight how historical grievances continue to intersect with contemporary political rivalries in India. By organizing a high-profile march on the same day as the opposition rally, the ruling party sought to draw public attention to past controversies involving its main rival while countering the messaging of the INDIA bloc demonstration. Both Hindustan Times and Times of India noted that the reports did not include an immediate response from the Congress party regarding the BJP's demands.
What to watch: Further responses from the Congress party regarding the BJP's demands for an apology.
Reporting from: Hindustan Times, Times of India. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- BJP
- Congress
- INDIA bloc
- Hardeep Singh Puri
- Rekha Gupta
- Delhi
- India
- Politics