BJP national president Nitin Nabin will lead a foot march titled “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk on Wednesday, October 28, as the party steps up its outreach amid protests by
the Opposition over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra, MPs and other party leaders are expected to participate in the march, which is likely to begin at around 4 pm tomorrow. More than 15,000 people are expected to take part in the march.
The BJP’s march comes amid a political dispute over the Election Commission’s SIR exercise, with the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties alleging irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and accusing the poll body of facilitating “vote chori”.
The BJP, meanwhile, has launched a nationwide campaign under the slogan “Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy” to counter what it describes as the Opposition’s misleading claims about the SIR process.
INDIA Bloc To Hold Mega Rally On November 1
The BJP’s march comes days before the INDIA bloc’s planned mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The Congress has been mobilising its leaders and frontal organisations to ensure a large turnout at the rally, which is aimed at protesting alleged “vote chori” and demanding the ouster of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The rally will mark the culmination of the Opposition’s ‘Delhi Chalo March’. Congress leaders have described it as a major show of opposition unity against alleged electoral irregularities and the SIR exercise. The allegations against the Election Commission remain contested.
Earlier this month, the Congress had announced a nationwide campaign “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao”, involving marches from October 10 to 20 to raise awareness about the SIR exercise and the party’s allegations against the poll body.
The November 1 rally is part of the Opposition’s broader campaign seeking accountability over the revision of electoral rolls and alleged irregularities.
Traders Protest Against November 1 Rally
The planned INDIA bloc rally has also drawn objections from traders in Delhi, who fear that traffic restrictions, road closures and security arrangements could disrupt business during the festive shopping season.
On Monday, traders staged a protest at Kashmere Gate, urging the Congress to postpone the November 1 rally until after Diwali.
Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Brijesh Goyal said the organisation would write to all INDIA bloc parties, while traders also approached Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to seek a change in the date.
Traders said the rally could affect access to major markets, including Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Khari Baoli and Kashmere Gate, at a crucial time for festive sales.
Responding to the protest, Gandhi said the demonstrations would “stop in 30 seconds” if traders asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the “vote chori” issue.
With inputs from PTI
