INDIA bloc stages mega rally in Delhi; Amit Shah shifts focus to anti-Sikh riots

Nadda accuses Rahul of disrupting Delhi businesses with rally

Union Minister JP Nadda on Sunday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of disrupting business activity in Delhi by organising the INDIA bloc's mega rally during the festive season.

Nadda alleged that the Congress was putting the livelihoods of traders and small shopkeepers at risk by bringing large crowds into the capital during a busy period for businesses.

"The objective of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party is to paralyse Delhi during this sacred festive season, to strike a blow at the livelihoods of our small-scale shopkeepers and traders, and to incite an atmosphere of unrest and chaos in the country," Nadda said.

He pointed out that traders, street vendors and shopkeepers depend on the festive period, which includes Dhanteras, Diwali and Chhath Puja, to earn a substantial part of their income.

Nadda also claimed that the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) had approached several Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, on three occasions to raise concerns over the rally.

"They pleaded, 'For God's sake, do not bring such massive crowds into Delhi during the festive season; do not bring our businesses to a standstill,'" he said.

The Union Minister alleged that the appeal had gone unheeded and accused Rahul of putting political interests ahead of the concerns of Delhi's business community.

"Yet, due to Rahul Gandhi’s obstinacy, their businesses have been brought to a complete halt today," Nadda added.

Rahul urges Delhi residents to join INDIA bloc rally at noon

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged people in Delhi to join the INDIA bloc's march and rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, calling for the protection of voting rights.

In a post on X, Rahul appealed to residents to gather at Connaught Place and march towards the rally venue at Ramlila Maidan. He also asked people to join the gathering directly at Ramlila Maidan.

"Delhi, get ready! Save the Vote, Save the Nation," Rahul wrote.

He urged people to take part in the programme scheduled for noon, using the hashtag #ChaloDilli.

"Come to Connaught Place, let's march together. Or meet directly at Ramlila Maidan - but you must come," he said.

The INDIA bloc's rally is being held under the campaign slogan 'Save the Vote, Save the Nation'.

John Brittas calls INDIA bloc rally a 'landmark protest' in Delhi

CPI(M) MP John Brittas on Sunday described the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan as a major protest, claiming that large numbers of demonstrators had reached the capital despite alleged attempts to prevent their participation.

Brittas said the gathering could mark a significant moment in the country's political history, claiming that around 10 lakh people had come to Delhi.

"It will be a landmark protest; I can tell you that this will upend the political situation now. It's going to be historic because 10 lakh people, despite the heinous tactics of suppression and oppression, have come to Delhi," he said.

The CPI(M) leader also alleged that several party volunteers and workers had been stopped at the border, removed from trains and detained on the previous night.

"Last night, I got information that many of our volunteers, comrades, were blocked at the border, and they were pulled out of the train; they were detained," Brittas said.

He added that the turnout at Ramlila Maidan was expected to grow further, describing the gathering as a landmark protest even before the rally formally began.

BJP holds separate Delhi march to remember 1984 riot victims

The BJP has organised a separate march in west Delhi to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The party has accused the Congress of scheduling its rally on the anniversary of the violence.

The march is scheduled to proceed from Hari Nagar bus depot to Tilak Nagar metro station. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, HS Phoolka, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj were expected to attend, reported NDTV. 

Before the march, BJP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney is set to address the media alongside riot survivors at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib. Survivors and family members of those killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots are also expected to take part in the protest.

Sivadasan says INDIA bloc rally will send message of Opposition unity

CPI(M) MP V. Sivadasan on Sunday said opposition parties, intellectuals and citizens' organisations had joined hands for the INDIA bloc's mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

Speaking ahead of the gathering, Sivadasan said thousands of participants had already reached the venue, describing the turnout as a sign of unity among different sections.

"The INDIA bloc, opposition parties, the intellectuals and the citizens' organisations together, today, are going to conduct a huge rally in Delhi. Already, thousands of these people have reached Ramlila Maidan," he said.

He added that the gathering would send a message across the country and mark a significant moment for collective opposition efforts.

"So this rally has created a new history of the unity of the people, and this rally will create a new message to the people, to the nation," Sivadasan said.

Akhilesh questions UP govt over claim of 1.27 crore missing votes

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of raising concerns over missing votes only after suffering an electoral setback, questioning the timing and source of the figures.

Speaking at the venue of INDIA bloc's mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, Yadav claimed that 1.27 crore votes had gone missing in Uttar Pradesh, referring to an admission by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

"The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh himself admitted that 1 crore 27 lakh votes had gone missing. And when did he realise this? Only after he lost the MLC election," Yadav said.

He also took a swipe at the BJP's 'double engine' government, saying it had turned into a "double zero" after facing defeat. Yadav alleged that the government had approached the Election Commission seeking a recount after refusing to accept the result.

Questioning the claim that 1.27 crore votes, reportedly belonging to Hindus, were missing, he asked who had supplied the figures.

"The government is alleging that the votes of lakhs of beneficiaries are missing. If that is the case, then perhaps they, too, should come to Ramlila Maidan," he said.

Delhi traffic restrictions around Ramlila Maidan ahead of INDIA bloc rally

Traffic restrictions have been put in place around Delhi's Ramlila Maidan ahead of the INDIA bloc's mega rally, with curbs on the movement of heavy vehicles in the surrounding areas.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vijayanta Goyal Arya said arrangements had been made to keep essential routes accessible, particularly for commuters travelling to New Delhi Railway Station and hospitals, as well as emergency vehicles.

"There are some restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles in the areas surrounding Ramlila Maidan. However, keeping in mind essential movements—such as those toward the New Delhi Railway Station, emergency vehicle access, and access to hospitals—certain carriageways have been kept open," Arya said.

She added that traffic personnel had been deployed to limit inconvenience to residents. While traffic at ITO remained unaffected, movement between New Delhi and Central Delhi, particularly along Minto Road, was expected to face some disruption.

"Necessary diversions have been provided for these routes," she said.

Tharoor slams EC over alleged deletion of 130 million voters

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday criticised the Election Commission over the alleged deletion of voters' names from electoral rolls, saying the constitutional rights of citizens must be protected.

Speaking ahead of the INDIA bloc's mega rally in Delhi, Tharoor said the priority should be to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral register.

"What we need is an absolutely clean election register. It is better to have one or two dead people there than cut out 130 million real people," he said as quoted by ANI.

Tharoor alleged that the removal of such a large number of voters was unacceptable and questioned the manner in which the exercise had been carried out.

"The constitutional rights of the Indian people should not be taken away by the Election Commission. What they did was simply wrong," he said.

Referring to the country's electoral history, he said elections had been conducted freely and fairly for decades without mass deletions of voters. He also cited Rahul Gandhi's remarks, claiming that 15 per cent of India's adult population had been removed from the rolls.

Tharoor said the INDIA bloc had come together to raise the issue and send a message to constitutional authorities.

"We're looking forward to this rally. It's going to be the whole of India trying to send a clear message to the constitutional authorities that the constitutional rights of the Indian people must be protected," he said.

SFI marches to Ramlila Maidan for INDIA Bloc rally against CEC

SFI leaders and workers on Sunday marched from Surjeet Bhawan to Ramlila Maidan to take part in the INDIA bloc’s rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, ANI reported.

Earlier, SFI-affiliated student activists assembled at Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan before setting out for the venue. The INDIA bloc’s ‘Dilli Chalo’ march is scheduled to start at 12 pm from the Connaught Place-Minto Road junction.

Sagarika Ghose seeks Gyanesh Kumar’s removal through Parliament

Ahead of the Opposition’s protest march and rally at Ramlila Maidan, Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose called for the demand raised at the gathering to be taken up in Parliament during the Winter Session.

“The voice raised at the Ramlila rally must be carried into Parliament, and formal proceedings should take place during the Winter Session to ensure that Gyanesh Kumar is officially removed from his post through due process.”

Speaking to PTI, Ghose described the rally as “very impactful and important”.